Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Aitken University Centre
University of New Brunswick
20 MacKay Drive
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Year Opened: 1976
Capacity: 3,278
The Red Standard
In many walks of life there is reference to the “Gold Standard” which refers to the best of the profession, the standard to which all strive. In Canadian university hockey, USports, there is the Red Standard, as in the UNB Reds, the best modern program in the country. Since 1998, the UNB Reds have brought home 10 National Championships, including 7 since 2010. The Reds have also brought home 22 conference banners.
The University of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It is the oldest English language university in Canada, established by seven Loyalists who left the United States in 1785. The Fredericton campus has over 10,000 students, a significant number compared to the modest population of 79,000 in the capital city of New Brunswick. UNB first iced a hockey team back in 1897. By 1956 the student newspaper labeled the university’s different athletic teams with unique names. The hockey team was dubbed the Red Devils. A rebranding in 1991 saw a unification of all athletic teams under the Varsity Reds brand. In an effort to make UNB athletics feel more accessible and less elitist, in 2018 the brand was once again retooled and they are currently the UNB Reds.
Home for the Reds is the Aitken University Centre, which is owned by the University of New Brunswick, and doubles as the main arena for the City of Fredericton. It opened in 1976 and has a capacity of 3,278. It is named after Sir Maxwell Aitken, the former Chancellor of UNB from 1964-1982. It was also the home of the Fredericton Express and Fredericton Canadiens of the AHL.
Food & Beverage 4
The concession options at the Aitken Centre are a solid step above what one would normally expect from a Canadian University hockey venue. There are two main concession stands in the concourse, on either side of the building, with a couple of smaller stands that focus on beverages and small snacks. The menus of the concession stands are inspired by local eateries Monk’s & Jonesie and The Snooty Fox. Fans can find typical arena items on the menu including hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels and pizza. Some of the more interesting items include a number of naan bread items like donairs, hot dogs and chicken, as well as some signature nachos, burgers and hot dogs. A limited selection of alcoholic beverages are available at both stands and Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice at the Aitken Centre.
Atmosphere 4
Aitken University Centre is definitely of a 1970’s vintage. The exterior features brown brick on the lower portion while the upper portion consists of brown, corrugated siding. The main entry is on the north side and features a banner listing the gold, silver and bronze medals earned in the University Cup tournaments the Reds have participated in. The south side features banners for the 10 National Championships the Reds have won, and can be seen from the highway.
Entry from the north brings fans into a small breezeway which houses the ticketing office. It becomes immediately obvious that Aitken Centre is first and foremost, the home of the Reds. There are Reds markings all over this breezeway and into the concourses. Collages for the Reds’ National Championships, the Reds All-Canadians and other markings are plastered all over the concourse walls. Getting to the arena a bit early to peruse all of this is well worth it. Above the eye level, above door height, all around the concourse are posters from the nearly 50 years of events held at Aiken Centre. Although the concourses do travel a full 360 degrees around the arena, fans are limited to a horseshoe shape as there is no bypass around the north entrance breezeway. The ice surface is north-south oriented with seating all the way around. Approximately 15 rows of wooden seats surround the ice surface, with some makeshift boxes at the top of the arena. The seats are most definitely the original ones from the seventies, but they are in very good shape and surprisingly comfortable. The ceiling is littered with championship banners, too numerous to count. Banners of note are the 10 National Championship banners that hang at the north end of the arena and the three honoured Reds just north of the scoreclock. Banners for coach Gardiner McDougall, who won 9 National Championships in 25 seasons, athletic therapist Joe Glenn and the retired number 17 for Mark Jeffrey stand out among the plethora of conference championships. The biggest drawback of Aitken Centre are the two video screens that hang on the north wall with projectors. The technology is well past its prime and it is difficult to see the images.
The gameday production at a UNB game is solid. The Reds have an in game host who leads promotions and keeps fans interested during stoppages. A 50/50 draw happens near the end of the game. The speaker system is excellent and the PA announcer does a solid job.
Neighbourhood 4
The Aitken Centre is located on the UNB campus in the College Hill neighbourhood of Fredericton. As a city, Fredericton has a good vibe and is fun in both the winter and summer months. There are a number of places that are close by for pre or post game food and drink. Some options include Wayback Burgers, Pickle Jar, El Mariachi, Maxwell’s Steak and Seafood and Picaroon’s Brewery. UNB benefits from being pretty much the only game in town. The Reds also dress a basketball team as well as other university sports. Other tourist options in Fredericton include Quartermain Earth Science Centre, Fredericton Region Museum, School Days Museum and the New Brunswick Legislature. The Best Western and Holiday Inn are close by for fans wishing to stay near campus.
Fans 5
The Reds have been the dominant program at the turnstile as well as on the ice. At the time of writing, for the 2024-2025 season, the Reds averaged over 2,800 fans per game, which ranks first in the conference, and probably first in all of USports. It is of note, that the Reds also do not have a signature rivalry game at a larger venue that will skew the average attendance a bit. UNB has averaged about the same for a number of seasons.
Access 4
Getting to the Aitken University Centre is not that difficult. It is located on the Fredericton campus of the University of New Brunswick in the College Hill neighbourhood. It is on MacKay Drive, 4.5 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway and immediately north of NB highway 8. There is free parking on campus, and UNB does provide parking attendants to aid in getting fans parked. For fans who wish to take public transit, there are Fredericton Transit bus stops on campus. Fans should check the Fredericton Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Inside the arena, the concourses are a bit on the snug side and the washrooms, although plentiful, are also on the small side.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets for the Reds start at $12 with discounts for Seniors, UNB Staff, Youth and Students. Kids under 5 are free and UNB Students are also free. A unique feature of Reds hockey is that seats are reserved as opposed to General Admission. Purchasing tickets ahead of time is a good plan. Parking is free and concession prices are not too bad. On the ice, the Reds are one of the premier teams in USports and it is not possible to be much more successful than they already are. UNB puts together a gameday atmosphere that is as close to a major junior or professional hockey experience as you can get. In comparison, the price for this experience is excellent.
Extras 4
An extra mark for UNB putting together a major event feel and treating their team as a major junior or pro team.
An extra mark for the welcome Stadium Journey received from the Reds.
An extra mark for being the main game in town.
An extra mark for the remarkable success that the Reds have enjoyed both on the ice and at the turnstile.
Final Thoughts
It is difficult to find a program that has been as dominant as the UNB Reds have been in USports hockey. They put together a very professional product both on the ice and in the gameday production. When in the Maritimes, taking in some UNB Reds hockey at Aitken University Centre is a great plan. All fans should see a program that sets the Red Standard for the others to aspire to.
Comments