SaskTel Centre to eliminate designated smoking areas

Starting this weekend, you’ll have to butt out if you’re planning to head to SaskTel Centre.

A spokesperson for the venue issued a release Tuesday saying designated smoking areas outside the arena building will be removed ahead of the Saskatoon Blades home opener coming up on Sept. 22.

Both smoking and vaping will be prohibited in all areas, including all public outdoor spaces.

SaskTel Centre already has a no re-entry policy forbidding patrons from leaving and then coming back. Previously, smokers were given an exemption to head out to designated smoking areas, but that will end once those areas are removed.

The decision to butt out has the support of the Saskatchewan Rush.

“SaskTel Centre has made this decision and we stand by it,” said Brandon Urban, the team’s director of business development and media relations.

“We were not previously not consulted on the decision, but the arena is a partner of our team. We are in support of the decision and thus far we have received relatively positive feedback from our season ticket holders.

The release stated the new policy would put the arena in line with a majority of professional venues that no longer allow smoking anywhere on their facility grounds.

-With files from Brent Bosker