NS: Sydney to unveil new Centre 200 in fall

[SYDNEY, NS] — Action inside and out has replaced concert and sporting event activities as a $1.5-million facelift for Centre 200 continue toward a September completion date.

The improvements, cost-shared by all three levels of government, began last year and will increase seating and update the look of the 23-year old facility when completed.

“It is coming together and everything is on schedule,” said general manager Blair Brewer.
“At this point it is, anyway. Everything has been going along well.”

Renovations to Centre 200 are continuing throughout this summer.

Last year, then-Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Peter MacKay announced $1.5 million worth of upgrades to the facility, which includes funding from the federal government, the province, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the private sector.

The project began in 2009 when a new video scoring system was installed and washroom facilities modernized.

Private boxes and club seating are the main focus of the current round of renovations.

From the rear parking lot large holes cut for new windows can be seen. Brewer said they’ll allow for natural light to filter into the 13 new private boxes.

A large recently constructed concrete pillar can also be seen from the parking lot. It’s part of a new stair system to allow for a second exit from the private boxes. Those stairs are scheduled to be installed next week.

Inside the building, new club seating is being created at the location of the old private boxes.

“They are a premium tiered seating as opposed to being in an individual box, which are 10 to 12 seats and sold corporately. The club seating is sold on an individual seat basis.”

The new private boxes and club seating combined with a section of seats returned to the lower bowl of the facility will bring seating capacity to 5,000 for hockey games.

“We are waiting for seats, which will be probably one of the last things to arrive for both the boxes and the club seating.”

Upgrades to the concessions and concourse area are also nearing completion.

The entire renovation is expected to be finished by late September.