Built in the 1970’s, the former Yardmen Arena needed a redevelopment to increase seating capacity and add new amenities required to operate a professional hockey team. During work in the feasibility study, prospective owners came forward resulting in the CAA arena becoming the home of the AHL’s Belleville Senators.
The outdated Yardmen Arena had an Olympic sized rink, fixed seating for 3,200 people and undersized dressing rooms. To accommodate the AHL team, the rink was reduced to an NHL size pad, seating was increased to 4,400 by expanding the arena and adding a new seating tier, and a 9,000 sq ft Home Team dressing room. Further renovations included updating existing dressing rooms to create a larger visitors dressing room, adding 8 private suites, 8 loge boxes, a fan deck, and 4 new concessions.
The design combines functionality of an accessible, working multi-use spectator arena with a design that puts a new contemporary façade on the building. Dressing rooms, concourses and new areas in the arena are all wheelchair accessible.