Members of the Penticton Valley First Vees and the Westside Warriors line up for the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the first game in the South Okanagan Events Centre last weekend. A crowd of about 4,500 attended the game.

An almost sell-out crowd on Saturday wasn’t put off by the few details that still need to be completed at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

“It was extremely well-received,” said Mayor Jake Kimberley, who opened the new building with a speech for the crowd estimated at close to 4,500.

“I was so taken aback by it and I have visited the site many times while it was under construction. I said before that people would walk in there and just say wow and that is exactly what they got, wow. Unfortunately all the bits and pieces couldn’t be completed before the event took place.”

Kimberley was there for both weekend events — sending off Memorial Arena at Friday night’s Penticton Vees hockey game and then enjoying the team skate to another victory on Saturday evening. But it wasn’t the only victory that night, the game marked the first-ever event held at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

“It was really great to see the old and new. What a comparison,” he said. “Having the three hockey players from the old V’s teams and see them so emotional to see the old and new was great.”

The vintage V’s of old closed out Memorial Arena with a special ceremony featuring 1955 world champions Ivan McLelland, Ernie Rucks and Kevin Conway.

“This was one of the most fantastic weekends,” said Conway, who noted it was great to see familiar faces in Rucks, McLelland and the other alumni.

Another one of Conway’s highlights included getting a tour of the new arena dressing rooms, players lounge, medical room and private offices.

“Wow, what a place that is and you know that is what we said 57 years ago when we walked into (Memorial) arena. It was wow look at this place. It was a brand-new state-of-the-art building and that is exactly what this (SOEC) is for the boys today. It is just fantastic,” said Conway.

The following night had the current junior A players skate into the new era with the unveiling of their BCHL Interior Conference title and championship banners from the pristine rafters of the events centre.

Fans were left in awe of the building even though a few tweaks are still needed to get everything to where it should be, including the opening of all the concessions and the installation of some of the retractable seating. Pictures of the new events centre posted on a BCHL fan forum had those from other junior A communities giving kudos with comments like, “that place is unreal” while one fan from Vernon posted, “This by far is the nicest rink in the BCHL.”

The Vees will get another skate at their new home before the first entertainment act comes through the South Okanagan Events Centre. Feist with special guest Hayden will play the centre on Oct. 14 which will be followed by Bigfoot Monster Madness on Oct. 17-18 and then rock legends Chicago will play on Oct. 19. Other upcoming events include NWA Pro Wrestling, Jann Arden, Disney On Ice presents High School Musical: The Ice Tour, The Harlem Globetrotters, FMX World Tour and the World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions.