The Sleeman Centre, home of the Guelph Storm, is getting a multi-million-dollar facelift ahead of the highly-anticipated 2027 Memorial Cup. The facility, which was built in 2000, will get a technological upgrade, as well as improvements to seating and lounge areas. A new scoreboard will also replace the arena’s old one, offering a picture that is four times clearer. “The last one was installed in 2012,” said Matt Newby, the Guelph Storm’s vice-president of business operations. “This one, the screens are between three to four times the size. So, obviously a huge difference there.” Fans can also look forward to a unique twist on the standard Guelph Storm logo at centre ice, with the graphics projected directly onto the surface. “It will become one large LED panel within the circle,” Newby explained. “It allows us to do a bunch of stuff that’s never been done in North America. It allows us to change logos depending on the logo we’re wearing.” Unused concrete steps will be converted into new premium lounge areas, featuring 128 seats with additional standing room. When the Guelph Storm hosts the 2027 Memorial Cup – which coincides with the city’s bicentennial – the newly renovated space will be used to host both media and alumni. “This will be a bar area,” Newby said during a tour on Thursday. “This becomes a lounge and bar that services this new area.” The Memorial Cup is expected to be a massive economic boost for Guelph. The team also hopes to see unprecedented foot traffic. “I think we’ll get to about just under 50,000 total with hockey fans,” said Newby. “Our goal is to double that with everybody else. We [will] bring all the other events we’re doing into the community.” While hockey fans will benefit from the renovations, officials emphasized that the Sleeman Centre was already due for an upgrade. “It just makes the building better, makes the fan experience better,” Newby said. “Outside of the Storm stuff, it makes the experience for other events that they bring into the Sleeman Centre... it improves those as well.” The team is footing the bill for the renovations. “The scoreboard was about $750,000,” Newby shared. “I think when we add up everything over the five-year project, it’s probably going to be about a $3 million spend by the team.” A makeover is also planned for the dressing rooms and some of the public spaces. The Sleeman Centre’s upgrades should be complete before training camp starts in mid-August.
