Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex
The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex is a multi-use municipally-owned facility in Kitchener, Ontario.
History
For more than 50 years, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex (The Aud) has been a cornerstone of the community. The history of The Aud tells a story of a building first conceived with a vision for the future - a vision that has been surpassed.
Kitchener's first auditorium was located at Charles and Queen streets and was supplied with ice and refrigeration from the nearby Silverwood Dairies. However, when the dairy moved in 1938, the auditorium was converted to a dance hall. In January 1948, it was destroyed by fire. From 1938 to 1951, Kitchener did not have its own ice surface, forcing groups to use ice in Galt and Waterloo.
The idea to rebuild a municipal auditorium began in 1938 when a group of local sports enthusiasts proposed a facility that would seat 5,500 people and cost $175,000 to build. It would be Kitchener's own Maple Leaf Gardens. The public did not share the group's enthusiasm and when the proposal went to a public vote, it was defeated.
After World War II, community spirit changed considerably and it was decided that an auditorium would be built in honour of those who served in the war.
In 1950, council chose the East Avenue site for the facility and bought the land for between $600-$1,000 per acre. In May 1950, the cornerstone was laid and construction began. The building, with its state-of-the-art convertible flooring that allowed conversion from a hockey arena to a concert hall in 24 hours, was officially opened on May 24, 1951. The Auditorium was the fourth largest facility of its kind in Ontario.
In 1967, Centennial Stadium and Jack Couch Park on the Auditorium grounds were created as a centennial project.
In 1986, construction began on the $9.2 million addition to the Auditorium. The project featured twin Olympic ice pads, a teaching theatre, a fitness centre, viewing lounges, change rooms, banquet facilities and meeting rooms. The new addition opened on Jan. 9, 1988. The facility was renamed the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex to reflect the larger building and the original intent of constructing a war memorial.
In 1994, the original Auditorium arena was renamed the Dom Cardillo Arena; Cardillo was, at the time, Kitchener's longest-serving mayor.
In 1998, another addition provided a permanent home for the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club.
In 2011, Kitchener city council approved an expansion at The Aud. The expansion added close to 1,000 seats to the arena's capacity, as well as
- A third-level concourse
- A fourth-level media room and loft-style suites
- Concessions
- Washrooms
- Renovated team space, including dressing rooms, player services, offices and retail areas
The added seats will bring the capacity for hockey, including suites and standing room, up to 7,600-7,800. The newly renovated areas opened in October 2012.