$200,000 more needed for arena renos ahead of Memorial Cup in Kamloops

The City of Kamloops may be on the hook for a surprise $200,000 renovation to the Sandman Centre before the Memorial Cup tournament this year.

It's for a temporary platform on the east end of the arena concourse for TSN's broadcast operations, Canadian Hockey League executives, sponsors and team executives, according to a city staff report.

"This requirement was not identified by the CHL during previous facility discussions," the report reads.

READ MORE: A tale of two arenas: Why Kamloops got the Memorial Cup and Kelowna didn’t

There are already media and sponsor booths available at the arena. It's not clear why this temporary platform is needed now as opposed to what the arena currently has, and the staff report doesn't include detailed descriptions of the platform.

The city has already allocated $940,000 in broadcast upgrades for arena not including the temporary platform.

City council will vote tomorrow, March 28, on whether to add another $200,000 to the arena renovations.

READ MORE: Kelowna Rockets eyeing 2025 Memorial Cup but still needs building upgrades

TSN will broadcast the tournament, which is set for its first puck-drop on May 26 when the Kamloops Blazers take on the QMJHL champions. It will continue for nine games, ending with the final on June 4.

Tickets are available online here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.