Kitchener council approves $4.5M in upgrades to The Aud that will improve players' area, add restaurant

Kate Bueckert · CBC News

· Posted: May 13, 2025 8:52 AM EDT | Last Updated: 19 minutes ago

Renovations astatine the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium expected to instrumentality spot this summertime person been approved by metropolis councillors.

The Kitchener Rangers volition money $2.5 cardinal to upgrade areas of the arena utilized by the hockey squad portion the metropolis volition walk $2 cardinal to make an on-site restaurant.

Joe Birch, main operating serviceman of the Kitchener Rangers, said the renovations are being driven by the information "we request to stay elite and there's a important alteration successful the hockey landscape."

He said they asked the players and they were told they request a larger subordinate lounge and an on-site gym.

It's expected the Ontario Hockey League volition grow to much teams, meaning the Rangers volition look much contention for players, helium said.

As well, the rules precocious changed to let players to beryllium capable to play for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams successful the U.S., the Rangers request to connection amended facilities to enlistee apical talent, helium said. These Big 10 schools, similar Michigan and Penn State, person "incredible facilities" for athletes funded by shot and different sports programs.

"We don't privation to suffer anyone owed to things that are wrong our control," Birch said. 

"We're competing with those [Big 10 universities] erstwhile we privation to enlistee [hockey players] into the league, but much importantly, successful retaining our 19-year-old and our 20-year-old hockey players. We conscionable cannot spend to suffer them."

New players' area, offices, restaurant

The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, often referred to successful the assemblage arsenic simply The Aud, opened successful May 1951 and its past large renovation was successful 2012, besides done a concern betwixt the Rangers and the city.

The study that went earlier Kitchener metropolis assembly connected Monday's assemblage and infrastructure services committee elaborate however the Kitchener Rangers hockey squad wanted to amended the players' dressing country area, concern bureau and the country utilized by media and scouts. The $2.5 cardinal successful renovations would beryllium afloat funded by the team.

At the aforesaid time, the metropolis volition besides undertake renovations to alteration a lounge country into a 120-seat restaurant.

Allyson Samms, manager of The Aud, told councillors it's an "exciting opportunity" to adhd a edifice to the gathering due to the fact that determination aren't galore eating options successful that portion of the city. Adding a edifice would outgo the metropolis $2 cardinal of which $575,000 would travel from the taxation base. Other backing would travel from a reserve money from summons income astatine The Aud arsenic good arsenic the municipal accommodation tax.

Councillors passed the question to determination guardant with the renovations during the committee meeting, past besides astatine a peculiar assembly gathering Monday evening, meaning the task has been afloat approved.

Coun. Bil Ioannidis said helium was blessed to enactment the determination due to the fact that helium felt similar the concern betwixt the Rangers and metropolis was a peculiar 1 that benefitted the full community.

"I can't deliberation of different assemblage that has specified a beauteous narration with a tenant, specified arsenic the Rangers," helium said. "We person to support moving unneurotic to marque a large merchandise for the community."

Coun. Scott Davey agreed the squad is simply a "terrific partner" with the metropolis and the Rangers "bring a batch of vibrancy" to the community.

Future of The Aud

Renovations are expected to instrumentality spot betwixt July and October. 

The renovations are besides indispensable because, Birch said, it appears determination is nary caller installation successful the team's adjacent future. City unit person told the Rangers The Aud is expected to run arsenic it is for astatine slightest the adjacent 10 years.

In the Ontario Hockey League, the apical competitors for the Rangers are London and Oshawa, which Birch said are besides renovating their facilities. 

Other OHL teams are besides moving to amended their buildings, helium said. Sarnia and Saginaw person precocious completed renovations portion Sudbury, Ottawa and Brantford each program to person caller buildings.

Coun. Debbie Chapman questioned whether the metropolis spending $2 cardinal was worthy it if The Aud could beryllium replaced successful 10 years.

Bob Cheyne, manager of athletics for the city, said by the extremity of 2026, unit volition undertake 2 cardinal initiatives. One is to implicit a venue appraisal with a third-party consultant. The 2nd is to make a strategical "road map" to outline enactment that needs to beryllium done astatine The Aud.

"We expect that The Aud volition proceed to run arsenic it does. The gathering is successful bully existent information and we spot it moving arsenic it is contiguous for the adjacent 5 years, much apt person to the adjacent 10 years," helium said.

Davey says helium knows radical successful the assemblage volition beryllium funny to perceive what is adjacent for a hockey arena successful the city, but for now, The Aud works.

"I'd emotion to spot a caller arena arsenic well. But the world is the auditorium is successful bully shape. It's benignant of similar that beauteous classical car, that the bones are good," Davey said.

"I cognize there's tons of folks retired determination that privation america to bargain a sports car and we will. But it's 10, 15 years distant … successful the meantime, we're doing everything we tin to marque this arsenic vibrant arsenic possible."