Medicine Hat Arena

The Medicine Hat Arena is a 4,006-seat multi-purpose arena in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. It was built in 1970 to replace the old rink that burned down in a fire where the Medicine Hat Inn is now situated. It is home to the Medicine Hat Tigers Ice hockey team. In recent years the building has received upgrades including new plastic seats, replacing the rainbow wooden benches that nicknamed the rink "The Smartie Box". Also, a new scoreboard, sound system, heating system, lighting system, and front entrance have been added. The Tigers had sold out every game for over five seasons, finally ending on March 29, 2008, when the Tigers played to a crowd of 3,788, 218 short of a sell-out.

New arena

There is currently much debate over building a new "Medicine Hat Events Centre". Medicine Hat City Council, on June 20, 2010, voted 6–3 "Nay" to the proposed funding. This is the second consecutive funding proposal that has been defeated by two different councils, the first being a vote of "Nay", 5–4. On June 17, 2013 City Council approved design plans for a new Events Centre by a vote of 8-1. The new Events Centre will be located in the Box Springs Business Park. Ground breaking is expected late August 2013 with a proposed opening of September 2015, in time for the 2015-2016 WHL season.

The new rink in planning features:

• 6,500 fixed seats (will open with 5,500)
• 60 restaurant fixed seats
• 136 seats in 17 boxes/suites
• 440 standing room
• 7,076 spectators for concerts
• 175,000 square feet (16,300 m²)

References

Update June 2013 http://www.tigershockey.com/article/city-of-medicine-hat-approves-regional-event-centre

External links

A seating chart and view simulator (for the current rink) is available from the Medicine Hat Tigers web page here: http://www.tigershockey.com/seating-plan.php