Expanded concourse, food options and craft beer sports bar coming to Rogers Arena

This fall, if not for the game on the ice, Vancouver Canucks fans and event goers at Rogers Arena can look forward to a major upgrade and expansion to the stadium venue’s concourse and amenities.

Much of what is in store is housed inside the the lower floors of a new 26-storey market rental residential building on the northwest corner of the arena. Construction on the first of four towers that will be wedged into the arena’s city block size lot first began in 2012.

Residents are not anticipated to move into the units until next year, but the lower five floors of additional concourse space, food and beverage options, and expanded amenities will open in time for the regular season opener on October 11.

The 26-storey mixed-use tower, the first four at Rogers Arena, is nearing its final height. The lower floors are designated for expanded concourse space and amenities.

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

A total of 11,000 square feet in concourse space has been added to the arena’s Level 100 and Level 300 concourse. Level 100 consists of a new bar that will feature 14 wines from the tap, as a way of keeping wine fresh, and is just footsteps away from Steamers, a new food outlet that serves items such as Smoke’s Poutine, a dozen types of gourmet hot dogs and sandwiches, and various desserts.

New bar and expanded concourse on Level 100.

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

On Level 300, the new high ceiling space is occupied by a large sports bar with one of the longest bars in the city, 20 craft beers on tap, and 70″ television screens. During non-event nights, the bar can be accessed through a street entrance on the viaduct.

The new sports bar on Level 300.

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

Altogether, in addition to existing White Spot Triple O’s and pizza items, over 180 menu options are being added to the arena’s menu as part of Chef Robert Bartley’s vision to have food freshly prepared and 60 per cent of all ingredients locally sourced.

This required a complete re-build of the kitchen to install new appliances, multiple walk-in refrigeration and freezer units, butchery area, and pastry shop. The stadium’s original beer lines have also been replaced with more than 1 kilometre of new beer lines.

A few of the new, large walk-in refrigeration and freezing units.

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

Besides providing more space and offerings through the new tower, 14 executive suites on Level 200 are receiving updated interiors that consist of new cabinets, floors, and appliances including dish washing machines.

The space from eight suites has been reconfigured to create the new Loge Club, a luxury seating concept that can accommodate 13 groups of up to six people in theatre-style semi-private seating. The booking-only space has its own bar and wine cellar and includes a three course meal from the suite’s in-house chefs.

The latest arena upgrades and expansions cost $10 million, adding to the $50 million in capital investments since the Aquilini family acquired the Vancouver Canucks.

Earlier this year, the Canucks terminated their contract with Aramark, the company that provided concession services to the arena for the past 16 years, in an effort to create their own food and beverage business. The new extensive liquor options were made possible by the the provincial government’s recent decision to permit the sale of liquor at arenas and stadiums.

The cost to build all four mixed-use towers will be over $300 million, with site preparation already beginning for the tower on the former plaza facing Pacific Boulevard near Gate 7.

Loge Club under construction

Image: Kenneth Chan/Vancity Buzz

Loge Club interior renderings

Image: Vancouver Canucks

Image: Vancouver Canucks

Image: Vancouver Canucks

Image: Vancouver Canucks

Rendering of all the Rogers Arena towers upon completion.

Image: Vancouver Canucks

Feature Image: Vancouver Canucks