The Meadow Park Sports Centre ice rink will reopen to spectators this weekend as part of a pilot program, the Resort Municipality of Whistler announced.
Rink access was closed to spectators last weekend following what officials described as weeks of escalating crowds and public intoxication. The municipality said the closure was an immediate safety precaution to protect athletes, staff, and community members.
“With heavy-duty machinery on site and high-speed play, a safe environment is an alcohol-free environment, and we take the responsibility to maintain this standard seriously,” the municipality said in a statement.
The municipality said that spectator access will continue on a conditional basis, provided liquor laws are respected.
“We greatly respect the love our community has for the game of hockey and community-based recreation in general,” the statement said. “The sentiment shared online requesting we reinstate safe spectator access is important to us and reflects respect for our request that Canadian liquor laws be followed.”
The municipality asks visitors to help keep the hockey season open to the public by leaving alcoholic beverages at home.