The Aud

[KevinL]

Proposed summer renovations at the Kitchener Auditorium to bolster the Rangers as an “elite franchise” will include a $2-million restaurant paid for by the city.

The plan will come to Kitchener council May 12, with the Rangers requesting to renovate and improve the players’ dressing room, and relocate team offices and the media/scout room, as well as entice the city to build a restaurant where the current Subscriber’s Lounge is outside the Dom Cardillo rink.

The renovations — aside from the restaurant — will cost $2.5 million and will be paid for by the club. The main focus of the work is the expanded dressing room, which, said Joe Birch, the Rangers chief operating officer, created a domino effect.

Improving the dressing room area, which includes moving the fitness centre, expanding the players’ lounge and enhancing players’ athletic therapy, meant team offices would have to go to the third floor, known as the Legend’s level, where the current media/scout lounge is located.