Crews Put Finishing Touches on Erie Insurance Arena for Otters Home Opener

    October 5, 2012 - tonight is the first time the general public will get to see the inside of the updated Erie Insurance Arena.

    The first event in the renovated arena starts at 7pm when the Erie Otters face off against Brampton.

    Last minute finishing touches were happening inside the arena all day today.

    Crews were painting, doing electrical work and wiping off chairs in preparation for the otters home opener.

    The noticeable changes inside include the concourse areas that use to be dark and cramped.

    Both new concourses look bigger and are top of the line compared to the old arena.

    The kitchen isn't complete yet, but is expected to be done within the next month.

    As for the Otters new home, the locker room is state of the art.

    They won't be there during tonight's game because a little more work has to be done, but next week they will be able to use it.

    If you plan on going to the game tonight, you'll have to use a specific entrance.

"Everyone's going to need to come in the east side of the arena off of Holland or Eighth Streets and we'll have staff out there directing them but try and get here early," Casey Wells, ECCCA executive director, said. "And that will be the entrance for the entire season."

    The otters face off at 7pm tonight.

    They also play tomorrow at 7pm against London.