Anyone wishing to see some of the sports at next month's Arctic Winter Games will be able to do so for free.
"All entrance to the games and playoffs will be free of charge, first come, first serve," said Greg Rowe, the president of the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games Host Society.
"When we look at the big picture, I think it's fairer," he said.
Plus, Rowe said free tickets will mean more spectators and will add to the overall enthusiasm and excitement at venues.
"We're hoping the venues will be full," he said
Rowe admitted the host society "struggled" with the idea of selling tickets to sports events.
"Obviously, it's a revenue generator to a degree, but when we looked at the capacity and some of the issues with limited capacity, it wasn't going to be a big revenue generator for us," he said. "Really what we're looking for is to have full houses so everybody can enjoy it."
There will be limited space in each venue allocated for special guests and athletes.
At some past Arctic Winter Games in larger communities with bigger venues, tickets were sold to sporting events.
Rowe noted that not selling tickets to sporting events will eliminate the cost of printing tickets and the work to sell them.
Rowe added the host society had also considered and rejected the idea of selling superpasses to sports venues, as at most of the previous Arctic Winter Games.
"But we're just concerned with our limited access to the venues," he said, noting it would have created frustration if someone purchased a superpass but was unable to get into an event.
A superpass gets a holder into all venues.
The only events for which tickets will be required are the opening ceremonies on March 18 and the closing ceremonies on March 24, both at the new rec centre in Hay River, and the March 23 cultural gala at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Fort Smith.
"There will be tickets coming on sale we're hoping very soon, but they'll be very limited, for the opening, closing and the gala," said Rowe. "That's the only tickets that we'll be selling. The price has been set on that for $50 per entrant and there will be limited purchasing, probably two."
The goal is to have the tickets on sale by mid-February.
Rowe is looking forward to the opening ceremonies of the games.
"It's going to be the start of what we've been working on going back to 2003 when we first put our bid in," he said.
The host society president noted the cultural gala in Fort Smith will also be a special evening featuring performers from each contingent at the games.
"The cultural gala is really, I think, as big a show as the opening and closing ceremonies," he said. "It's the pinnacle for the cultural performers."
One person who will not be at the Arctic Winter Games is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had been invited by organizers to open the event.
"He's not able to make it," said Rowe, noting the organizers were informed in a letter months ago.
"Obviously, having someone of his stature open your games is wonderful for the games, not just for the host community but for the games in general," he added.
Justin Trudeau's father – prime minister Pierre Trudeau – had opened the first Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife in 1970.
Rowe said it is disappointing that the prime minister couldn't attend the games, but admitted it is also a bit of a relief because the organizers don't have to deal with the additional work involved in such a visit.
Invitations have still gone out to Governor-General Julie Payette, federal cabinet ministers, territorial leaders and Indigenous leaders.
Rowe also noted that, as of last week, 1,175 volunteers have been recruited for the games in Hay River and Fort Smith.
Organizers are aiming for 1,500 volunteers, but Rowe said they are confident that even 1,300 would be enough to run the games.
Rowe also has no concerns that Hay River's rec centre, which is in the final stages of a rebuild, will be ready for the Arctic Winter Games.
"It's an absolutely amazing facility," he said. "It's coming together quite nicely."