arena | completion

Sleek, contemporary

By LISET MÁRQUEZ

IF YOU THINK the outside of Citizens Business Bank Arena is stunning, wait until you step inside.

The entrance is stark with floor-to-ceiling windows and integrated doors. Once inside, visitors are greeted by an airy space created by a 93-foot-tall ceiling with exposed steel framing and concrete pillars.

The sleek contemporary design of the entrance offers a glimpse of what to expect throughout.

Designers kept the region’s young demographic in mind when they planned the Arena, said Diana Murphy, an interior designer with Rosetti Associates.

From the granite countertops strategically located throughout the structure to the drop-down light fixtures on the Concourse level, the entire building has a modern edge.

Instead of framing the Arena’s various artwork pieces in wood, Murphy said they selected metal and chrome finishes. The same modern themes directed the choice of fabrics and colors.

Patterns in the blue and grey flooring, which is a stained cement, complement the overall design scheme, said Arena marketing director Sue Oxarart. All through the Concourse level, variations of blue accented with bright yellow catch the eye.

The level has five concession stands, each distinctive, both visually and in terms of edible offerings. The vibrant red backsplash and yellow and blue accents help set the locations apart almost as much as their diverse offerings — from barbecue to hot dogs to Mexican food and pizza.

There’s no need to worry about missing the action while you order your food — there are 52-inch flat-screen TVs at each stand.

General seating is made up of padded fabric chairs, typical to many arenas. There also are 700 club seats with higher backs and a little more width.

Then there are the two suite levels — 24 Club suites and 12 Skybox suites. Each suite features a granite countertop that provides a little table space for those in the room. Want to sit down? There are two rows of black leather seats overlooking the Arena. Suites are outfitted with mini refrigerators, cabinets and sinks.

There’s also a 52-inch flat-screen television in each.

Suite guests have access to the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino VIP Club, 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor lounge. Bright blue stripes sweep from the ceiling and follow the walls down to the carpet.

One wall, at the entrance of the lounge, is accented in a wave texture reminiscent of the design element used on the exterior of the Arena, Oxarart said.

The outside patio of the lounge has a fireplace, more countertops and seating, she said.

On the upper level there is some general seating, a group seating area, as well as the 12 Skybox suites.

On the southwest corner of the Arena, guests of the Skybox suites have access to an exclusive bar where they can enjoy a quick bite to eat or grab a cocktail while watching the activity below. There also is a VIP-only patio.

Murphy said the Arena’s most interesting features have less to do with the accents than with the design elements built into the structure itself.

"The sightlines are marvelous; there is not one poor seat in the house," Murphy said.

Murphy, who has worked on arenas throughout the United States and internationally, is impressed with the finished product.

"I don’t think there is anything like this in the United States," she said. "It embraces the spirit of Ontario."