Newly renovated PeoplesBank Arena set to open doors Friday

Doors are set to open at the new arena on Friday and News 8 got a sneak peek at the work being done inside.

The project, which has taken around two and a half years and cost around $145 million, aims to get more nationally-known acts and Hartford-area residents inside.

Pop music legends such as Madonna, Elvis and Michael Jackson performed at the former Hartford Civic Center in its heyday, but it’s recently been a struggle to attract big name acts. This newly-renovated facility could change that.

The new facility features new lighting, new paint and new seats that are bigger and more comfortable than the old ones. The arena also features “Loge Box” seating, which are semi-private, opera-style box seats that combine “first-class perks and privileges with a close-to-the-action feel,” according to its website.

“We’ll have the new team locker rooms, but also a specific area for artists. So, when someone comes in for a concert, they’ll have their own dressing room,” Peter Luukko with the Oak View Group, which manages PeoplesBank Arena, told News 8.

Fans can dine on new food items like candied yams and mac and cheese rolls, as well as burgers and hot dogs, of course. News 8 was told food prices will be the same as before.

Nearby businesses along Pratt street are excited about the newly renovated arena.

“We’ve been waiting on this for quite a while, hoping it brings new life into the area, new faces.” Ivy Rudy from nearby Urban Lodge Brewery said.

Originally, there was talk of tearing the venue down, but the state determined that was not cost effective. Opening night is Friday, with Hartford Wolf Pack hockey at 7 p.m., tickets can be found here.