The renovations to UD Arena are coming along great, as least we think so from our inspection Tuesday morning when we received the grand tour from associate AD Dave Harper. What fans are going to be most impressed with is the new energy felt throughout the interior, due primarily to all the color and theming carried throughout the renovations.

The concessions area beneath the east and west wings are nearly complete and fans will be pleased to find many new additions to the menu including items like salads, roast beef sandwiches, chicken fingers, pizza, cheeseburgers, and enough beer taps to run an Oktoberfest. The entrances to each wing have been entirely redone, and the new windows above the doors allow considerable natural light to enter the wings — a much-needed improvement compared to its dungeon-like feel last year and all those years before it. The wings have many more points-of-sale, but there seems to be as much or more roaming space to accommodate the traffic. Each wing has an abundance of televisions, but that can be said for everywhere in the Arena. No matter where you turn or what direction you are facing, there will be a television in front of you inside the Arena.

As you walk through the wings and onto the main concourse that circles the Arena, more color abounds. Walls that used to be white are now Flyer red or blue. Fans who have trouble finding their seat will enjoy the new directional signage that’s found everywhere. The signs actually make sense and out-of-towners should have no trouble finding their seats no matter where they are in the facility. A small touch, but an important one UD made certain to cover.

The Arena carries a flight theme throughout the building, and no better is that demonstrated than by the blue runway lights that follow the foot traffic areas. Many of these lights hang from the ceiling in the concourse area but the runway lights can also be found in the upper Arena — making for a nice accent when the overhead lights are turned off during the game. Further around the concourse will be new murals along the former stucco walls. These same walls will have runway lights built into the sides as well.

On one end of the Arena is the newly renovated Boesch lounge and the accompanying suites that overlook the court. Most of the suites are receiving their finishing touches and all are accounted for with the exception of the suite on the far right — the largest of the suites — that will be available for purchase on a game-by-game basis.

Directly opposite the Boesch lounge and suites are the loge seats and Time Warner Flight Deck. The loge seats, like the suites, offer a similar view of the court, while the Flight Deck takes on a less formal theme compared to the Boesch Lounge. The bar area of the Flight Deck is almost ready to go and while the suite’s stadium seats have yet to be installed, the loge seats are already in place. Consider the Flight Deck like a bistro, while the Boesch lounge more of a formal dining or social experience. Both are extremely well polished in their own way.

So much has been done that we’ve barely covered the basics. More photos and a comprehensive guide to all the renovation changes in the UD Arena can be found in Pride Plus.