Spruce Grove’s incredible new recreation and culture facility Heavy Metal Place is now officially open to the public!

The grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 10 saw more than 5,000 thousand people visit the facility for an official ribbon cutting followed by tours, live entertainment, public skating, children’s activities, commemorative souvenir giveaways, and much more.

“What a great day to officially open this incredible new facility to our community,” said Spruce Grove Mayor Jeff Acker. “This has been years in the making, and it’s been amazing to watch it take shape since construction began in 2022. With both outstanding recreation and cultural amenities under one roof, this building reflects who we are as a community—a place that values connection, activity, creativity, and coming together.”

Heavy Metal Place is home to two NHL-size ice surfaces including the Thompson Family Arena, the new home of the Spruce Grove Saints, and the Cst. Brett Ryan Community Arena, named in honour of Brett Ryan, a Spruce Grove resident and Edmonton Police Service constable who lost his life in the line of duty in March 2023.

Also featured at Heavy Metal Place is a new branch of the Spruce Grove Public Library, a community art gallery and permanent home of the Allied Arts Council of Spruce Grove, a state-of-the-art black box theatre, and a community walking track (expected to open in July 2025).

Many of the spaces and amenities at Heavy Metal Place are available to community groups and individuals, and can be rented for private lessons, performances, celebrations, and events. City staff at the Customer Experience desk can assist with facility bookings, as well as Spruce Grove Transit route information, ARC card purchases and refills, Horizon Stage theatre tickets, registration for Recreation and Culture programming, and other City inquiries.

Heavy Metal Place is open seven days per week from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Partner organizations within the facility may have different operating hours. Facility rental information including specifications for each bookable space is available on the Heavy Metal Place website.