I hope the new management don’t paint the area itself. It’s bright and fresh looking, helping the place look new. Perhaps add more banners along the side of the area (bench side) where there are currently two sponsor banners. It would be nice to see the large screen corners completed. I’m amazed a sponsor has wanted to jump onto that (maybe there are) as the clock is something looked at regularly during a game. I think a spot light or two for when the team hit the ice would be good also.
The public skating rink has scope for some colour. Perhaps this is an area the Devils and the other skating teams could advertise their respective clubs, attracting casual skaters to ice sports.
Personally I would love to see it more sports related bar, if not Devils/hockey exclusively. This doesn’t have to be a full paint job and carpet. Simply hanging some memorabilia around the place - things that can easily be removed for non-sports related functions. There certainly needs to be more serving areas in the bar to mitigate the long queues during period breaks. How about a bottle bar along that wasted wall that runs alongside the lift entrance.
Catering facilities need some investment. Alternative meals, more paying areas and more vending machines serving confectionary, hot drinks, and healthy snacks. Let’s not continue to be like contracting leisure centres who promote health and wellbeing yet serve just burgers, chips, chocolate and coke.
A lot of potential for improvements for not a ridiculous amount on money as I see it. Much of this will determined by the ambition of the new arena management and the flexibility is has been delegated to make changes.
P.S. we have arguably the best hockey rink/arena in the UK. Scope to improve, yes, but lets not knock it. We just spent 10 years in a tent!