The City of Kamloops currently has six indoor ice facilities:

• McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre (two sheets) + new mini rink opening October 2025 (a Build Kamloops Project)
• Sandman Centre
• Valleyview Arena
• Memorial Arena
• Brock Arena

Peak-time use of all ice and dry floor is approaching 100% during the primary ice season (September 15 to March 15). Overall demand exceeds capacity and our current facilities are aging, with the last one being built in 2005 (McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre) as part of the Tournament Capital build.

At the same time, however, the Ice Box (private facility) closed, so the community didn't net any new ice sheets, meaning the last additional ice was in 1992 with the build of Sandman Centre. The city has gained over 30,000 residents since the construction of Sandman Centre, and the Recreation Master Plan indicates the need for at least two additional ice sheets to meet demand.

The Arena Multiplex will create four additional rinks to meet needs of multiple ice sports, allowing more capacity for over 100 local clubs and improving our event hosting capabilities. It will be built on City-owned land at 2070 Hillside Drive, nestled against the boundary of Kenna Cartwright Park, which reduces the overall cost of the project and builds on our history of repurposing otherwise unusable land and co-locating indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. This location provides easy access off the highway and is in close proximity to hotels, amenities, and retail.

Other features of the project include:

• spectator seating for approx. 1,500
• modern change rooms and sport amenities
• space for a Thompson-Nicola Regional Library location
• space for complementary uses, such as equipment rentals, skate sharpening, and other recreational services
• fitness facilities
• multi-purpose rooms
• 700 parking stalls
• relocation and improvements to parking
• intersection and traffic flow upgrades
• improvements to area transit route
• commitment to improved park amenities

The construction of the Arena Multiplex will also improve the City’s ability to respond as a host community by using other City facilities during emergency events without disrupting recreation and community events that can be accommodated in the new facility.