WINNIPEG -- Randy Bachman's idea to open the True North Centre with a huge concert featuring Winnipeg talent is getting the thumbs up from the man who will be in charge of the new building.

The Guess Who guitarist told The Sun he would like to have the Guess Who and Neil Young headline a day-long concert of local acts to christen the downtown arena when it opens in two years.

"It's a fantastic idea, the ongoing idea of True North is to feature Winnipeg talent, including music and entertainment and on the ice," says Kevin Donnelly, the president of Winnipeg Enterprises who will become vice-president of facility management when the True North Centre Arena opens in the fall of 2004. "It would take a week to cover off all of the talent this city has."

On Tuesday it was announced the Guess Who would be awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award at a ceremony in November.

While describing his honour at being named an award recipient, Bachman said he would like to headline a concert featuring Winnipeg artists such as Chantal Kreviazuk, the Crash Test Dummies, Loreena McKennitt, Remy Shand and the Watchman, all of whom have gone on to national and international success.

"It should be the blasting Winnipeg rock concert of all time," he said.

Several plans for the arena's opening have been discussed, but nothing has been decided yet, Donnelly said, adding he was genuinely interested in Bachman's idea.

"If Randy is saying he wants to be a talent consultant for the new arena he's hired. If you've got someone with the credibility of Randy that would be great if he would be spearheading it," Donnelly says.

Bachman also joked the arena could be called The Guess Who Arena in honour of the Winnipeg band who became international music stars in the late 1960s.

That's another great idea but it wouldn't come cheap, Donnelly says.

"The naming rights are definitely available and if Randy wants to pony up and create a lasting and high profile presence of his band's name, he's more than welcome to," he says.