Photo: Shaun Penner

By Shaun Penner

Small-Scale Upgrades

Minor Revolution Place upgrades to bring new security detectors, in-seat concession service

Sep 2, 2020 | 4:53 PM

Some smaller-scale upgrades will be made to Revolution Place over the next couple of months amid discussions and upcoming public engagement on a potential large-scale renovation in the future.

Plans for some more minor upgrades to the facility were made as Grande Prairie City Council had approved $544,000 for that work in its 2020 Capital Budget back in May, prior to talks of a full-scale renovation to the facility.

Not wanting to do any “throwaway” renovations that would be wiped out by a large-scale renovation, Catherine Ridgeway, the Events and Entertainment Manager with the City, says they pivoted their plans to make upgrades that will help them make needed upgrades for COVID-19 measures, as well as improve the fan experience.

“We wanted to hold off on some of those bigger projects, like the concession where we would be moving walls and things like that, and refocus on projects that would help us once we reopened post-COVID.”

The upgrades, which are set to get underway shortly, would include things like repainting the lobby space and installing new walk-through metal detectors.

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“The new ones now can also detect people’s temperature as they come into the venue, which will be a great asset,” said Ridgeway.

“And then the point-of-sale at our concessions. So, the focus will be to be able to order from your phone, from your seat, and then have an in-seat delivery option. Just to limit the amount of movement throughout the building, and it’s just a great add-on too.”

Ridgeway says they were already eyeing up an in-seat concession service prior to the pandemic, as their research had shown it to be implemented quite successfully at comparable venues, while also leading to more sales.

“Once the pandemic happened, we were all looking for ways to keep people in their seats and limit the amount of movement throughout the building. So, it’s kind of a no-brainer.”

Meantime, public engagement on the potential $55,000,000 upgrade to the facility is set to get underway on September 8. That will include an online survey, a random phone survey and an in-person open house in late September or early October.

The large-scale upgrades would see the arena increase its capacity to 5,000 seats, as well as add extra washrooms, concessions, suites and a new arena entrance and box office that would divide access to the arena and Bowes Event Centre.

The public feedback will be considered in early November when Council will discuss going ahead with the renovation during budget deliberations.