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Colorado Avalanche open season at Ball Arena Wednesday with new renovations ahead

Ball Arena officials say they’re taking on the construction project in phases to limit impact to fans and neighbors. Denver7's Alex Dowd breaks down what fans will see this season.
Ball Arena Rendering
Colorado Avalanche opens season at Ball Arena Wednesday with new renovations ahead
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DENVER — After last season ended in heartbreak, Avs Faithful are back at Ball Arena to start the chase for the Stanley Cup all over again.

The Colorado Avalanches faces off against the Los Angeles Kings for their season opener at Ball Arena Wednesday night as the site starts a set of stadium renovations.

Officials announced Ball Arena’s $135 million facelift mid-September, saying in a release “everyone will still recognize this as the site of some of their most cherished memories, but with the amenities, conveniences, technology, and aesthetics of a brand new building.”

The Arena originally opened in 1999 as the Pepsi Center, so while some of the changes are cosmetic, others are designed to launch the venue into the 21st century.

Arena officials say they’re taking on the project in phases to limit the impacts construction has on fans and neighbors.

The most obvious changes will be on the east side of the arena facing downtown Denver. The East Atrium will get a full new glass facade, new escalators and a new team shop. The new atrium will have wider entrances and exits, so the busiest points of the arena won’t face as much congestion.

Ball Arena Rendering
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's rendering of Ball Arena renovations.

The renovations will also add three new club spaces for fans, including one with direct access to the lower bowl or 100-level seats.

Ball Arena rendering of club spaces
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's rendering of Ball Arena renovations.

For the rest of the venue, the project plans to upgrade point-of-sale checkout systems to cut down on wait times.

The renovations are scheduled to wrap up in time for the 2028-2029 seasons.