At least one user group has plans in the works for Red Deer’s new Servus Arena, which held its grand opening on Saturday, which featured food, live entertainment and a free community skate.

“There’s all kinds of stuff down the pipeline happening for us to host provincials,” said Al Sim, president of Red Deer Minor Hockey.

“We didn’t know when the building was going to be ready and it’s open early so we couldn’t apply for anything this year. But we’re going ahead for next year, for sure. We’ll have all kinds of events in here.”

Steve Fleming, president of the Red Deer Vipers said bidding for an event like the Keystone Cup, Western Canada’s Junior B hockey championship, would be up to the organization’s governing committee.

Servus Arena replaces the former Red Deer Arena, originally constructed in 1952 and demolished in 2016.

The total cost of the new building, including the teardown of the old one, was $21.6 million.

A few relics from the old rink remain, including the arena sign, now located on the arena’s second floor; score clocks, and benches, which have been repurposed as drink rails.

Also on the second floor, a mural commemorates the former building’s history.

Valerie Hill has memories from the old barn. She played on the Red Deer College Queens hockey team that won gold at home in 2001.

Hill came out on Saturday to check out the arena and left impressed by what she saw.

“Arenas are a great staple in a community. It brings the community together and it brings lots of kids out, which I think is wonderful to see,” Hill said.

Construction on the parking lot still needs to be completed. As a result, the Public Market will be located at the Memorial Centre for another year.