Kinex Arena, located in Red Deer, is a popular ice skating rink that has been a hub for recreational activities and community events for many years. With the recent opening of twin arenas at the G. H. Dawe Community Centre, the city has made the decision to decommission the Kinex Arena.
The facility will no longer serve as a recreation amenity for the community, and plans are underway to repurpose the assets and equipment in other city-owned facilities.
The last day of programming for the Kinex Arena was on March 26, 2023, and a public event was held on April 1, 2023 to bid farewell to the arena. The facility equipment and fixtures will be inventoried to identify items that have continued useful life and value. The City will make efforts to repurpose these assets and any remaining items will be made available to the community in a fair and transparent process.
Despite the closure of Kinex Arena, the city is committed to providing ample ice skating facilities for Red Deer residents. The second arena at the G. H. Dawe Community Centre has been established as the replacement for the Kinex Arena.
The City's 2016 Ice Facilities Plan outlines threshold targets for arena demand and population growth, indicating that no additional arena space is currently required.
The closure of Kinex Arena marks the end of an era for many in the community, but the city is excited about the new opportunities that the G. H. Dawe Community Centre twin arenas will bring. As the city continues to grow and evolve, the focus remains on providing top-notch recreational facilities for all residents to enjoy.