New restaurant and players facilities proposed for The Aud

It’s exciting news for anyone who spends their Friday nights at the rink.

The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium is set to undergo its first significant upgrade since 2012 this summer, thanks to a collaboration between the Kitchener Rangers and the City of Kitchener.

The project is set to come before the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee for review, and includes a new restaurant, improved player and scout facilities, and the relocation of office space.

City staff are recommending that the city invest $2 million in the construction of the restaurant, which would be a 120-person capacity establishment open during all major events at The Aud and available for private bookings.

No word yet on whether the restaurant will be a chain or a standalone establishment, but it’s set to be located in what would be the former Subscriber’s Lounge area.

The Rangers portion of the project will upgrade the players facilities, introducing improved athletic therapy and more lounge space.

“I think when players are making their decision on which facility, venue, and team to join, those are things they look at,” said Allyson Samms, manager of The Aud.

The City of Kitchener is, in part, investing in The Aud in order to attract a wider net of events to the stadium, including concerts and esports tournaments.

“It would definitely improve the user, fan experience, and then what it’s going to do is position our facility as a more attractive destination for those large scale events,” added Samms.

If approved, construction is set to begin in July and run until the beginning of the next Rangers season in October.