Centrium

What stands out is the sheer scale of the car park in front of it. The concrete stretches out flat and wide, a necessary expanse for a venue that draws crowds from across the prairies. The building itself is a long, low block of concrete and brick, unremarkable from the street until the steel trusses of the roof become visible against the sky.

That roof is the only thing that announces the building’s purpose. It is a steel structure that looks like a heavy tent, supported by trusses that are visible through the sides of the building. Inside, the surface is artificial ice, kept cold and hard for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The arena has seen its share of changes, most notably an expansion in 2012 that added more seats and some luxury boxes, pushing the capacity up to 7,111 for hockey. It is not a grand place, but it can raise the tempo when the Rebels are on a run.

The exterior is plain, with a large sign on the side that has changed hands several times over the years, now reading Marchant Crane Centrium. There are no grand arches or statues out front, just a wide driveway and a few trees planted in rows along the edge of the pavement. The building is functional, designed to handle everything from a weekend rodeo to a major hockey game. The atmosphere inside is not one of old-world charm; it is bright and modern, with the sound of skates on ice carrying clearly through the space. It is a place where the focus is on the game, not the architecture. The arena is currently the home ground for the Rebels, who have played there since 1992, and the fans are used to the setting. It has hosted a Memorial Cup tournament in 2016, but that is history now; the building simply stands as it is, ready for the next season.