Grand Opening January 22nd

On January 22nd, the Cougars Flames Community Arenas will hold a ceremonial grand opening to celebrate the addition of a third ice surface, in addition to two new Cougars’ locker rooms.

The rink will add 3000 hours of ice time per year and help ease the scheduling burden that both minor hockey parents and adult recreational players face throughout the year. There will be a ceremonial puck drop at noon followed immediately by an exhibition game on the new ice surface featuring teams from the Glenlake and Trails West districts.

At 12:30 p.m. there will be a number of special guest appearances, with a free BBQ to follow at 1 p.m.

In 1983, a non-profit community-based organization was formed to build and manage a safe, stable, first class recreation complex in central Calgary. In 1986, Calgary Centennial Arenas opened its doors to the Calgary community, and has become one of the most successful and efficiently run facilities of its kind in all of Alberta.

In September of 2009, a $17 million expansion project was proposed to help meet the growing need for ice time within the community. Rather than acquiring expensive land and erecting new structures, the South West Arenas Society (SWAS) decided that a renovation and expansion project was the best way to meet the needs of the community while capitalizing on the complex’s central location and ease of access from all areas of the city.

Formerly a two-rink complex, the two-phase proposal will begin with the addition of a third ice surface, with a fourth surface to be added later as funding and resources become available.

Recognizing the increasing demand for ice time, the Calgary Flames in conjunction with the Calgary Flames Foundation for Life donated $1 million to the project, prompting the renaming of the complex to the Flames Community Arenas from Calgary Centennial Arenas. Calgary Flames president Ken King expressed just how special this project truly is.

“We receive thousands of requests per year, and we take those requests very seriously. This one was brought forward to us and we thought it was a wonderful project. Think of the kids and the hockey schools and the great demand for the sport, it’s something we are happy to support. We’ve been doing projects like this for 30 years, it’s not about optics, it’s about what we do, and giving back to the community, it’s what professional sports is really all about," said King.

Home to the Mount Royal University Cougars men’s and women’s hockey teams, Flames Community Arenas will now boast a variety of new amenities in addition to the new NHL size (200’ x 100’) ice surface. Six additional dressing rooms have been built, adding a combined 5000 square feet of space. The new rooms include the complex’s first women’s only locker room, as well as an official’s room. A second level viewing area with seating for approximately 200 has also been added.

The two dressing rooms reserved specifically for the Cougars each have 26 stalls, and contain a dry change area, a therapy room, an equipment room and a coaches’ office. The Cougar women’s head coach Scott Rivett is thrilled with the new facilities, which really give the players something to call their own.

“I think it is a tremendous step forward for our program. It finally gives our teams a place to call home, which just enhances the student-athlete experience.”

The SWAS has worked tirelessly in an effort to promote ice recreation in Calgary communities, and the expansion of the newly renamed Flames Community Arenas symbolizes over 25 years of Calgary’s commitment to healthy, active lifestyles at the grassroots level. This facility is truly something that the citizens of Calgary can call their own.

Full schedule of events:

12noon - Ceremonial Puck-Drop

12:00pm - Exhibition Game On the New Ice : Glenlake vs. Trails West

12:30pm - Special Guest Appearance(s)

1:00pm - Free BBQ

* all events will take place in the new arena - 2390-47th Ave, SW