Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

By Ashley Legassic

SANDMAN CENTRE

An inside look at the Sandman Centre’s renovations

Aug 23, 2019 | 4:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — As the Kamloops Blazers training camp wraps up its second day, the City of Kamloops showcased its updates to the Sandman Centre.

Game six of the 2019 WHL playoffs between Kamloops and Victoria was unique for a number of reasons — including the fact that two panes of glass shattered during the battle.

“These glasses won’t shatter,” says City Parks and Facilities manager Jeff Putnam. “Typically if they do break, they’ll crack and they’ll go back toward the ice surface and not into the crowd.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today

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Putnam says one of the major renovations that took place at the Sandman Centre over the summer was a million-dollar board and glass replacement.

“The Canadian Hockey League has mandated all facility operators to upgrade their facilities for lighting and boards and glass,” Putnam says. “A couple of the main reasons for that is player safety and operational efficiencies.”

The third-level loge suites were expanded as well. The price tag for four seats in the semi-private suite is $6,500 per season — a cheaper alternative to box suites.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

“So we thought we’d bring (loge suites) here and just provide something — a little bit (of a) different experience with the Sandman Centre,” Putnam says. “So we’re super excited about this and so are the Blazers. Previously it was very under-utilized seats.”

The concession stands at the arena also got a facelift. They’ll be ready for fans when the regular season starts, and Putnam hints at a sprucing up of the menu.

Kamloops Blazers general manager Matt Bardsley says the upgrades are beneficial to both players and fans.

“It’s tremendous,” Bardsley says. “The support that the City’s given us and the fans as well. It’s a great environment for the players, it’s a great environment for the fans to come to the building.”

Bardsley hopes the playoff atmosphere felt in the Sandman Centre last year will help kickstart the Blazers’ 2019-2020 season.

“We talked about that with our players once the season ended,” Bardsley says. “We wanted to bottle up that excitement and start the year that way, We don’t want to use training camp to get going — we want to use training camp as ‘we are going’.”

The boards and glass are new and shiny — of course there’s the expectation puck marks will decorate them before long.

“Maybe a little bit,” Bardsley says. “Hopefully we’re hitting the net though.”