Photos by Jim Flannery, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Co-op Place 2802 Box Springs Way NW Medicine Hat, AB T1C 0H3
Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 7,100
Den of Tigers
Since the Medicine Hat Tigers’ inaugural season of 1970-71, they’ve won two Memorial Cups and five Western Hockey League titles, making them one of the most consistent performers in WHL history. Not surprisingly, they’ve produced a ton of talent, graduating 109 players to the NHL, including Jay Bouwmeester, Rob Niedermeyer, Chris Osgood, Lanny McDonald, and Kelly Hrudey.
Until the fall of 2015, the Tigers spent the entire history of their franchise playing in the Medicine Hat Arena, located just east of the city’s downtown core. The Tigers relocated to a brand new arena at the start of the 2015-16 season; after 45 seasons in the Arena, it was time to move into a more modern facility. Originally called Canalta Centre, it was specifically designed to Memorial Cup specifications in the hopes of luring the CHL championship to Medicine Hat in the near future.
Now called Co-op Place, it has room for 3,000 more fans than Medicine Hat Arena did, includes 22 luxury suites, 350 club seats on the south side between the blue lines, a lounge, and state of the art technology throughout.
Food & Beverage 4
There are four main concession stands at Co-op Place, one in each corner of the arena. The north west and south east concessions, known as the Badlands Grill and the Gas City Grill, offer pretty standard fare. A plain burger with fries is a bargain at $10. Add cheese for $1 and bacon for $2 and it’s quite tasty. You can also find hot dogs ($8, also including fries), candy and chips, pop in a bottle or from the fountain.
There is also a selection of alcoholic drinks available at these concessions. You can get Molson Canadian, Coors Light, or Coors Original for $7, a selection of craft beer for $8, plus a few cocktails and other drinks.
The northeast and southwest concessions are Express locations where you can grab and go. The menu has the same beverage options, while the food is a little simpler—snacks, nachos, hot dogs (without the fries), and so on.
Additionally, there are several locations around the arena exclusively selling adult beverages, including the Molson Hockey House lounge area on the south side. Between periods the lounge fills up with fans looking to enjoy a cocktail and some conversation away from the ice.
On the east end, between the two main concession stands, are two smaller set-ups selling popcorn and little donuts. On the north side you’ll find The Blue Line, offering a more in-depth cocktail and beer menu. In the southwest corner of the main concession is the Grit City Caesar Bar, if you’re looking for that Great Canadian drink. They offer five different blends, including a non-alcoholic version.
Upstairs in the west concourse behind the upper seating is the Whiskey Bar, selling a variety of unique whiskey options as well as some other cocktails. This spot is only open for Tigers games on Fridays and Saturdays. If you head downstairs in the southwest corner, you’ll find one more concession stand, called The Tigers Den, serving up made-to-order pizza, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Food and drink pricing throughout Co-op Place is very good compared to many other venues. Definitely a plus.
Atmosphere 3
Watching junior hockey around Alberta and Saskatchewan, you’ll find that the buildings tend to be fairly subdued for most of the game, but get much louder and more energetic as soon as something exciting happens in the game. At the Co-op Place things are much the same. You get the sense that the place is locked and loaded to erupt when the Tigers score, but that energy level does seem to come and go. It’s pleasant and friendly, but not quite edge-of-your-seat intense. Crowds tend to fill this venue to about half capacity for most games, so that also results in a little less energy in the stands.
The banners that used to decorate the Arena downtown are now located on the east end of Co-op Place. Lanny McDonald’s retired number is hanging from the rafters and the many, many championship banners the Tigers have earned over the years run the entire width of the roof at that end of the ice surface. All this history does a good job of helping make this place feel like the home of the Tigers.
Neighbourhood 2
There was some controversy when the location of Co-op Place was originally announced. Located in the Box Springs Business Park, a developing industrial area on the west edge of Medicine Hat, the arena is about as far away from the city proper as it can get while still remaining in the city limits.
The area itself is largely empty prairie land, with a few warehouses and store fronts. Therefore, if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite before or after the game, your options are extremely limited.
In fact, there are really only four food options in the immediate area, and by “immediate area” we’re talking less than a 20-minute walk. The busiest spot is the Boston Pizza located at 2500 Box Springs Rd., a little more than a half kilometre away. A Keg franchise has opened right next to the Boston Pizza as of 2016. A little farther away you can also find El Super Taco (103 - 2201 Box Springs Blvd.) which specializes in authentic Mexican food. Finally, if you’re looking for something quick and simple, an A&W can be found in the Petro Canada gas station a little further west at 2900 Box Springs Blvd NW. And next door to that is a McDonald’s and a Subway.
On the upside, with a relatively small city like Medicine Hat, the drive to more dining and entertainment options is really only 10 minutes or so. But plan to make that 10-minute drive.
Fans 4
The fans at Co-op Place are fairly relaxed for most of the game. However, they get loud when there’s a big hit, big save, or big goal. Looking around the seating bowl, people appear engaged on the game and, like other Canadian hockey crowds, they know their game.
Medicine Hat crowds have a reputation for being dedicated to their Tigers and seeing all the people proudly wearing their black and orange confirms it. Clearly these are fans who love their team and that’s always nice to see.
Access 3
Getting to the arena is pretty easy, although it’s a bit of a drive for most people. There is ample free parking around the building and the parking lot is designed well enough to allow vehicles to get in easily and for the lot to empty in a reasonable amount of time after games.
The concourse appears at first glance to be quite wide and roomy, with plenty of space for the crowd. This is indeed the case at the ends of the rink. However, due to lineups for The Blue Line, community events tables, and the Molson Hockey House queuing into the corridors, both the north and south sides can logjam between periods, although this has improved in the last few years.
Return on Investment 4
Single game tickets to see the Tigers cost $23.40 each for adults, $16.65 for youths (13-17 years old), and $12.65 for children 12 and under. That seems to be right in line with other teams in the league and a pretty good deal to check out the next generation of talent.
Extras 5
The Tigers Store is located just inside the main entrance on the west end of the building. Here you’ll find all the shirts, hats, jerseys and stuffed toys you could want with the team logo and colours.
The Tigers mascot, Rroary, has an awesome name for a mascot tiger and spends the game in the stands pumping up the crowd and high-fiving the kids, providing some family friendly entertainment away from the ice.
It is always pleasing to see facilities that try to look out for the environment, so seeing recycling bins around Co-op Place is a definite positive. As a LEED-Silver certified building, it just makes sense that they’d place a priority on green practices.
One excellent feature is that there are glow-in-the-dark strips on the leading edge of the stairs in the stands, adding to fan safety without being overly distracting or intrusive. This is a great idea that other arenas could learn from.
The video screen over centre ice is huge and state-of-the-art, with high definition video that is clear from all areas of the arena and tack sharp.
As with most WHL arenas, the top of the lower bowl features standing room viewing locations around most of the rink, with the remainder of the area reserved for wheelchairs and mobility-challenged fans.
The north side of the concourse had several tables set up promoting several local causes and businesses. This helps keep a community focus at the event.
Final Thoughts
Co-op Place is still relatively new, clean, and fresh. It’s continuing to mature into an excellent venue for the Tigers. Although they have yet to host a Memorial Cup, they continue to work hard to earn that distinction somewhere in the not-too-distant future.
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