Public tours, grand opening of Kitchener Auditorium expansion slated for New Year
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By Carrie Debrone
Kitchener Citizen
November 15, 2012
If you haven’t already had the chance to visit the expanded Kitchener Memorial Auditorium you will be able to see the changes in the New Year when an open house, official grand opening and public tours are being planned. No date has yet been set.
“It's been a long road and I know it’s been a very long road for the players,” said Steve Bienkowski, chief operating officer and governor of the Kitchener Rangers, as he lead a media tour of the expansion project Oct. 18, one day before two goals each from Eric Ming and Matia Marcantuoni led the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-2 victory in their 50th season home opener against the Oshawa Generals.
The $12-million Aud expansion project, which added 968 new seats to the facility and raised its seating capacity to about 7,500, met all its construction deadlines.
The expansion provides a third-level concourse, a fourth-level media room and loft-style suites, concessions, washrooms and renovated team space, including dressing rooms, player services, offices and retail area.
The Kitchener Rangers funded the expansion - a move made possible by a repayable loan from the City of Kitchener based on a 15-year repayment schedule.
The newly-completed renovation is a scaled-back, less-costly version of the original Kitchener Rangers proposal tabled in 2010, which sought approval from city council for a 3,500-seat expansion that would have cost about $65-million.
The transformation began Jan. 11, 2012, with the 61-year-old building undergoing seven-stages of construction over 10 months.
Underground water pipes were installed in stage one, with stage two completing the connection of the new water source and relocating the Rangers’ offices, dressing room and medical facitlites to 35 Sportsworld Drive so the expansion could continue. The Rangers used Sportsworld as a practice facility and administrative centre until construction was complete.
Stage three involved the demolition of the Rangers’ office, dressing room and medical facilities and removal of the outside sidewalk in front of the Rangers’ office to make way for new foundation and column work. The interior reconstruction of the Don Cameron Room (removal of kitchen and washroom) located beside The Outpost off of the main concourse was started. On the inside of the arena hoarding walls were installed along the East side of the bowl. Removal of the press boxes and prep work for the installation of the structural steel to support the new roof continued.
Stage four work began April 11, as cranes were erected to prepare for the initial raising and installation of rink-length steel truss framework for the expansion that would be completed in several weeks. Interior work on the Rangers’ offices and medical facilites continued and framing for the three level addition began. The first level now houses the concourse that supports the new seating area and concessions. The second level is the ‘Legends’ level with five private suites, National Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League and Media Lounge and the Rangers’ executive boardroom. The third level features the home and visiting media boxes.
Stage five saw significant changes to both the seating expansion and the interior dressing room area. The flooring of the new concourse level was installed to accommodate the concessions and washrooms for the new seating area. Pre-cast concrete for the new seats was added and the majority of the masonry work in the dressing rooms was completed. The erection of trusses for the new roof over the expansion allowed completion of electrical wiring, drywall and other interior fixtures.
In stage six, the new arena roof was completed on schedule and the Aud was closed to the public on July 23 to allow inside construction to continue and the elevator shaft to be completed. Renovations in The Outpost, the official retail outlet of the Kitchener Rangers, continued, including the installation of new windows and the completion of the floors.
The last construction stage included the milestone event of removing the old roof over the arena. The concrete walls and roof below the new roof trusses were taken out and the existing steel beams cut and lowered to ice level before being carried out from inside the building.
Stucco work began on the Ottawa Street side, and inside the seating area was prepared, ready for seat installation mid-September, and the floors were sealed. Stairs were poured and railings for the upper levels constructed. The dressing room and business operations areas neared completion, with furniture and equipment installed in October. In the arena, ice making began in mid October.
“We’re very excited and happy with how the entire project has moved forward since we began,” said Bienkowski.
“A lot of the credit goes to the various trades people who have worked diligently to meet the tight timelines.”
The Aud parking lot was expanded to add 116 new spots, and parking lot gate attendants will be on duty game nights to help guide visitors to parking spaces.
FREE BUS TICKETS TO AND FROM GAMES
In a pilot project agreement between the Rangers, the City of Kitchener and Grand River Transit, the Rangers are also offering free bus tickets to fans travelling to and from home games. Ticket holders can pick up free bus tickets at the Aud during regular box office hours and use them to travel by bus two hours before each game and 30 minutes after each game. Season ticket holders can pick up bus tickets in bulk.
EXPRESS BUS SO SUCCESSFUL A SECOND BUS HAS BEEN ADDED IN THREE LOCATIONS
The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club has also partnered with a number of local restaurants to offer a free express bus ride from the restaurants to hockey games.
The Rangers Express program allows fans to meet the Rangers Express bus at seven locations for a free ride to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
At the conclusion of the game, the bus picks fans up at the same Aud entrance where they were dropped off and delivers them back to the restaurant where they first boarded.
On game nights, the Rangers Express bus is free. Buses depart from the restaurants for the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium 45 minutes prior to game time. The bus returns riders to their original location, leaving the Aud about 10 minutes following the game’s Three Star selection. The bus will leave if passengers do not board in time.
The bus service is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To meet the overwhelming demand, on October 26 the Rangers introduced a second bus on Fridays at three restaurants - Montana’s Kitchener, Montana’s Waterloo, and Moose Winooski’s (Sportsworld Crossing).
In addition, the Rangers Express program is introducing a ticketing system, guaranteeing patrons a spot on the return ride from The Aud.
Upon arrival at the pick-up location, simply ask for a ticket, free of charge, inside the restaurant (tickets for the Downtown Kitchener location available from the bus driver). At the end of the game, you must show your ticket to reclaim your spot.
The Rangers Express bus is available at the following restaurants:
CASEY’S BAR AND GRILL, SUNRISE CENTRE (1440 Ottawa St. S.): The bus will park outside the restaurant’s main entrance
MOOSE WINOOSKI’S (SPORTSWORLD CROSSING): The bus will be parked in the lot between McDonalds and Ye’s Sushi
CASEY’S BAR AND GRILL (1120 Victoria St. N.): The bus will park outside the restaurant’s main doors
ST. LOUIS BAR AND GRILL (283 Northfield Dr. E): The bus will park outside the restaurant’s main entrance
MONTANA’S WATERLOO (310 The Boardwalk): The bus will park in the receiving area behind the restaurant.
DOWNTOWN KITCHENER RESTAURANTS (200 King St. W): The bus will be parked on Young Street side of Kitchener City Hall, by the entrance to the Parking Garage.
MONTANA’S KITCHENER (740 Ottawa St. S): Inquire inside the restaurant
Kitchener Citizen
November 15, 2012
If you haven’t already had the chance to visit the expanded Kitchener Memorial Auditorium you will be able to see the changes in the New Year when an open house, official grand opening and public tours are being planned. No date has yet been set.
“It's been a long road and I know it’s been a very long road for the players,” said Steve Bienkowski, chief operating officer and governor of the Kitchener Rangers, as he lead a media tour of the expansion project Oct. 18, one day before two goals each from Eric Ming and Matia Marcantuoni led the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-2 victory in their 50th season home opener against the Oshawa Generals.
The $12-million Aud expansion project, which added 968 new seats to the facility and raised its seating capacity to about 7,500, met all its construction deadlines.
The expansion provides a third-level concourse, a fourth-level media room and loft-style suites, concessions, washrooms and renovated team space, including dressing rooms, player services, offices and retail area.
The Kitchener Rangers funded the expansion - a move made possible by a repayable loan from the City of Kitchener based on a 15-year repayment schedule.
The newly-completed renovation is a scaled-back, less-costly version of the original Kitchener Rangers proposal tabled in 2010, which sought approval from city council for a 3,500-seat expansion that would have cost about $65-million.
The transformation began Jan. 11, 2012, with the 61-year-old building undergoing seven-stages of construction over 10 months.
Underground water pipes were installed in stage one, with stage two completing the connection of the new water source and relocating the Rangers’ offices, dressing room and medical facitlites to 35 Sportsworld Drive so the expansion could continue. The Rangers used Sportsworld as a practice facility and administrative centre until construction was complete.
Stage three involved the demolition of the Rangers’ office, dressing room and medical facilities and removal of the outside sidewalk in front of the Rangers’ office to make way for new foundation and column work. The interior reconstruction of the Don Cameron Room (removal of kitchen and washroom) located beside The Outpost off of the main concourse was started. On the inside of the arena hoarding walls were installed along the East side of the bowl. Removal of the press boxes and prep work for the installation of the structural steel to support the new roof continued.
Stage four work began April 11, as cranes were erected to prepare for the initial raising and installation of rink-length steel truss framework for the expansion that would be completed in several weeks. Interior work on the Rangers’ offices and medical facilites continued and framing for the three level addition began. The first level now houses the concourse that supports the new seating area and concessions. The second level is the ‘Legends’ level with five private suites, National Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League and Media Lounge and the Rangers’ executive boardroom. The third level features the home and visiting media boxes.
Stage five saw significant changes to both the seating expansion and the interior dressing room area. The flooring of the new concourse level was installed to accommodate the concessions and washrooms for the new seating area. Pre-cast concrete for the new seats was added and the majority of the masonry work in the dressing rooms was completed. The erection of trusses for the new roof over the expansion allowed completion of electrical wiring, drywall and other interior fixtures.
In stage six, the new arena roof was completed on schedule and the Aud was closed to the public on July 23 to allow inside construction to continue and the elevator shaft to be completed. Renovations in The Outpost, the official retail outlet of the Kitchener Rangers, continued, including the installation of new windows and the completion of the floors.
The last construction stage included the milestone event of removing the old roof over the arena. The concrete walls and roof below the new roof trusses were taken out and the existing steel beams cut and lowered to ice level before being carried out from inside the building.
Stucco work began on the Ottawa Street side, and inside the seating area was prepared, ready for seat installation mid-September, and the floors were sealed. Stairs were poured and railings for the upper levels constructed. The dressing room and business operations areas neared completion, with furniture and equipment installed in October. In the arena, ice making began in mid October.
“We’re very excited and happy with how the entire project has moved forward since we began,” said Bienkowski.
“A lot of the credit goes to the various trades people who have worked diligently to meet the tight timelines.”
The Aud parking lot was expanded to add 116 new spots, and parking lot gate attendants will be on duty game nights to help guide visitors to parking spaces.
FREE BUS TICKETS TO AND FROM GAMES
In a pilot project agreement between the Rangers, the City of Kitchener and Grand River Transit, the Rangers are also offering free bus tickets to fans travelling to and from home games. Ticket holders can pick up free bus tickets at the Aud during regular box office hours and use them to travel by bus two hours before each game and 30 minutes after each game. Season ticket holders can pick up bus tickets in bulk.
EXPRESS BUS SO SUCCESSFUL A SECOND BUS HAS BEEN ADDED IN THREE LOCATIONS
The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club has also partnered with a number of local restaurants to offer a free express bus ride from the restaurants to hockey games.
The Rangers Express program allows fans to meet the Rangers Express bus at seven locations for a free ride to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
At the conclusion of the game, the bus picks fans up at the same Aud entrance where they were dropped off and delivers them back to the restaurant where they first boarded.
On game nights, the Rangers Express bus is free. Buses depart from the restaurants for the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium 45 minutes prior to game time. The bus returns riders to their original location, leaving the Aud about 10 minutes following the game’s Three Star selection. The bus will leave if passengers do not board in time.
The bus service is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To meet the overwhelming demand, on October 26 the Rangers introduced a second bus on Fridays at three restaurants - Montana’s Kitchener, Montana’s Waterloo, and Moose Winooski’s (Sportsworld Crossing).
In addition, the Rangers Express program is introducing a ticketing system, guaranteeing patrons a spot on the return ride from The Aud.
Upon arrival at the pick-up location, simply ask for a ticket, free of charge, inside the restaurant (tickets for the Downtown Kitchener location available from the bus driver). At the end of the game, you must show your ticket to reclaim your spot.
The Rangers Express bus is available at the following restaurants:
CASEY’S BAR AND GRILL, SUNRISE CENTRE (1440 Ottawa St. S.): The bus will park outside the restaurant’s main entrance
MOOSE WINOOSKI’S (SPORTSWORLD CROSSING): The bus will be parked in the lot between McDonalds and Ye’s Sushi
CASEY’S BAR AND GRILL (1120 Victoria St. N.): The bus will park outside the restaurant’s main doors
ST. LOUIS BAR AND GRILL (283 Northfield Dr. E): The bus will park outside the restaurant’s main entrance
MONTANA’S WATERLOO (310 The Boardwalk): The bus will park in the receiving area behind the restaurant.
DOWNTOWN KITCHENER RESTAURANTS (200 King St. W): The bus will be parked on Young Street side of Kitchener City Hall, by the entrance to the Parking Garage.
MONTANA’S KITCHENER (740 Ottawa St. S): Inquire inside the restaurant
