tMoms making a beeline o Brooks arena
Andrea Klassen Medicine Hat News
In addition to the usual hockey fans and skating groups, Brooks’ Centennial Regional Arena is attracting a new group of users: stroller-pushing moms.
The recently-opened arena’s two-lane running track is bringing mothers out in droves, says Brooks recreation manager Russ Tanner, as well as fitness enthusiasts who want to spend their lunch break jogging, but who aren’t so keen on snow.
"Monday through Friday, from noon until nine, there's always someone on it,” says Tanner of the track, which runs the circumference of the arena, above the seats. “Noon hours are really busy."
The new arena, which opened in January 2010, has been a long time coming to the city. Originally proposed in 2000 to coincide with the renovation of the Lakeside Leisure Centre,
construction of the approximately $19 million facility didn’t begin until May 2008 due to fundraising delays.
After a decade of waiting, Tanner says the community is embracing the facility.
"I think there's a lot of excitement. There's more people coming out to activities, there's more people getting involved with fitness as a whole,” he says.
The new facility has more than double the capacity of the nearly 50 year-old Silver Sage Community Arena it replaces, with 1,704 seats, four private boxes, and standing room for another 500 people. The new facility also houses an NHL-sized ice rink, fitness room and modern change rooms - something Brooks’ Junior A hockey team is already appreciating.
“It's so nice to be in a place like this,” says Ryan Papaioannou, head coach of the Brooks Bandits. “If this isn't of NHL quality, than I don't know that you could get any closer.”
NEWS PHOTO ALEX MCCUAIG The finished Centennial Regional Arena on the outskirts of Brooks.
Papaioannou says attendance at Bandits games has about doubled since the team moved into the new arena, with the team playing to crowds of 1,400 on weekends and some weeknight crowds breaking franchise attendance records.
Tanner says the city is currently looking to organize concerts in the arena once the Bandits finish their season. Local lacrosse teams and the annual Shrine Circus will also use the venue later this year.
“Your Steel
Service Centre”
Celebrating Over 40 Years of Service
• Flats • Angles • Sheet • Plate • Rebar • Channels
• Concrete Mesh
• Expanded Metal
• Pipe & Fittings • Tubing
• Shafting • Beams • Nuts & Bolts • Bar Grating • Culvert
Custom Shearing, Forming, Rolling, CNC Hi-Def Plasma & Flame Cutting, Abrasive Water-Jet Cutting.
221 - 7th Street East Brooks, Alberta. Visit our website:
www.brooksindustrialmetals.com
Main Yard Phone: (403) 362-3544 Fax: (403) 362-7042
Recycling Yard Phone: (403) 793-8853 Fax: (403) 793-8805
100 — REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA 2010 ■ Celebrating our Community
$3,399 $2,399
$9,899
Brooks Farm Centre
WE DO IT RIGHT FROM THE GROUND UP!
Brooks, AB
(403) 362-8222 Toll Free: 1-800-262-5170 visit us at: www.bfc.eidnet.org
53627200•03/30/10
53650900•03/30/10
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120