Renovations at The Aud to bring new player facilities, restaurant

There will soon be some new additions to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk tells us what we can expect.

Now that the Kitchener Rangers have ended their season, a new project is set to start at home ice.

The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium will undergo a series of renovations aimed at enhancing the user experience for both players and fans. One part of the plan is upgrading player facilities, such as the fitness centre, player’s lounge and physical therapy spaces. The three-part project will also include the development of new office spaces, as well as a media and scout area.

“It’s all about player recruitment and player experience,” explained Joe Birch, the Rangers’ chief operating officer.

He emphasized the need for a competitive edge over other hockey markets, whether that be provincially, nationally or internationally.

“We’re competing now with U.S. colleges,” Birch said. “We had to be able to do some renovations and improve the player experience that were really within our control and financial means.”

Then he added, “No time like the present to be able to do this.”

The Rangers organization said it will be covering the cost of the renovations, budgeted at $2.5 million.

Built in 1950, the last time The Aud underwent any major improvements was in 2012, with the addition of 1,000 new seats, a concourse, community room, concession stands and a media area.

Part of the proposal includes an opportunity for the City of Kitchener to build a new restaurant inside The Aud. The dining space would take over the Subscriber’s Lounge, currently located on the second floor of the building. The budget for that part of the project is estimated at $2 million, with taxpayers covering 25 per cent of it.

“It is available and open, not only for Rangers’ games, but for [KW] Titans’ games, other events and tournaments,” noted Bob Cheyne, the city’s sport director.

“Depending on what the capacity [or] uptake is of the restaurant, over the estimated 100 operational days the payback would be anywhere between four and seven years,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

He believes the renovations are a much-needed investment for both the team and the city.

“I think these improvements are really going to help take the team to the next level over the coming years and will also guide the city in its work,” Vrbanovic said.

Upgrades to the Rangers’ home base are expected to wrap up by the end of August, just in time for training camp. If all goes according to plan, the city said it expects the restaurant to be up and running by the start of the 2025-2026 season in October.