Latest news with #TheAud
CBC
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
New documentary follows Kitchener man's dream to become a wrestling referee
When you watch pro wrestling, it's often about the two or more athletes in the ring putting on an entertaining show — but another character in every fight is the referee. In their new film, Colin Hunter and Sara Geidlinger wanted to focus the camera right on the wrestling referee. The movie is being released this weekend along with a charity wrestling event at The Aud. The filmmakers and Jeff Black, one of the stars of the movie, spoke to CBC's Aastha Shetty about their new film: The Ref Didn't See It.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Renovations at The Aud to bring new player facilities, restaurant
Now that the Kitchener Rangers have ended their season, a new project is set to start at home ice. The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium will undergo a series of renovations aimed at enhancing the user experience for both players and fans. One part of the plan is upgrading player facilities, such as the fitness centre, player's lounge and physical therapy spaces. The three-part project will also include the development of new office spaces, as well as a media and scout area. The Aud Kitchener Rangers Artist's rendering of the renovations at The Aud. (Provided) 'It's all about player recruitment and player experience,' explained Joe Birch, the Rangers' chief operating officer. He emphasized the need for a competitive edge over other hockey markets, whether that be provincially, nationally or internationally. 'We're competing now with U.S. colleges,' Birch said. 'We had to be able to do some renovations and improve the player experience that were really within our control and financial means.' Then he added, 'No time like the present to be able to do this.' The Rangers organization said it will be covering the cost of the renovations, budgeted at $2.5 million. The Aud Kitchener Rangers Artist's rendering of the renovations at The Aud. (Provided) Built in 1950, the last time The Aud underwent any major improvements was in 2012, with the addition of 1,000 new seats, a concourse, community room, concession stands and a media area. The Kitchener Rangers take on the London Knights at the Aud in Kitchener on March 18, 2025. The Kitchener Rangers take on the London Knights at the Aud in Kitchener on March 18, 2025. Part of the proposal includes an opportunity for the City of Kitchener to build a new restaurant inside The Aud. The dining space would take over the Subscriber's Lounge, currently located on the second floor of the building. The budget for that part of the project is estimated at $2 million, with taxpayers covering 25 per cent of it. 'It is available and open, not only for Rangers' games, but for [KW] Titans' games, other events and tournaments,' noted Bob Cheyne, the city's sport director. k-w titans The K-W Titans played at The Aud on Family Day. (Hannah Schmidt/Feb. 17, 2025) 'Depending on what the capacity [or] uptake is of the restaurant, over the estimated 100 operational days the payback would be anywhere between four and seven years,' said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. He believes the renovations are a much-needed investment for both the team and the city. 'I think these improvements are really going to help take the team to the next level over the coming years and will also guide the city in its work,' Vrbanovic said. Upgrades to the Rangers' home base are expected to wrap up by the end of August, just in time for training camp. If all goes according to plan, the city said it expects the restaurant to be up and running by the start of the 2025-2026 season in October.
CBC
11-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Renovated players' area and new restaurant at The Aud to be pitched to Kitchener city councillors
The Kitchener Rangers want to make some changes to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex and if that work gets approved, city staff want to piggyback on the renovations to build a restaurant there, too. A report going before Kitchener city council on Monday's community and infrastructure services committee says the Rangers hockey team wants to improve the players' dressing room area, business office and the room used by media and scouts. The renovations would be fully funded by the team. It would see the Rangers relocate the majority of their offices to the third floor of the building, expand player amenities "to continue to attract top talent" and relocate the media and scout room to the space that would go beside the proposed restaurant in a room currently called the Subscriber's Lounge. "This request from The Kitchener Ranges creates a unique opportunity for the city to take advantage of the planned construction work to create a new restaurant at The Aud," the staff report says, noting a restaurant would be an "attractive new amenity" that would "position the complex as a more attractive destination for large scale sports and e-sports events as well as concerts." The complex, often referred to in the community as simply The Aud, opened in May 1951 and its last major renovation was in 2012, although through a partnership between the Rangers and the city. Restaurant could become a destination Allyson Samms is manager of The Aud and says they see a lot of benefits to updating the space. She noted when players are being recruited by the Kitchener Rangers, they come to tour the facility and the city. "What are they going to do off the ice, where are they going to hang out, what are they going to be offered? They take that into account," she told CBC News. "We're hoping that the restaurant, maybe there would be regular operating hours, maybe it is a destination that would be available outside our special events … It's going to allow us to hopefully recruit some new events." The staff report says The Aud is in "good condition" currently and there are "no immediate facility or maintenance-related issues that would require it to be closed in the short or medium term." But, the staff report adds, "just like every other city facility, The Aud will require ongoing maintenance and future investments to maintain that condition going forward." The city would expect to spend $2 million to create the restaurant, of which $575,000 would come from the tax base. Other funding would come from a reserve fund from ticket sales at The Aud as well as the municipal accommodation tax. The report says a revenue projection shows if the restaurant is open for 100 days or nights in a year, there would be enough revenue generated to pay back the tax base within seven years. "It is important to note the restaurant has potential to earn higher revenue through private event rentals or expanding operations beyond 100 days, which would shorten that payback period," the report says.
