While things are opening up at Evraz Place, the Regina Exhibition Association says everything but dressing rooms are open on the grounds.

That has led to hockey players getting dressed outside in their vehicles before heading into the Cooperators Centre and onto the ice.

President and CEO for REAL Tim Reid says while dressing rooms are allowed to be open, they are taking a bit of a cautious approach.

“We have restricted the access to the second level viewing, as well as to limit the number of guests and fans that are allowed in our buildings, and we have not opened the dressing rooms,” Reid said. “Part of that is so that we get accustomed to how the buildings work under the new guidelines provided by (Saskatchewan Health Authority) SHA, and also so that our staff can be trained to properly sanitize the dressing rooms.”

Reid says the soccer facility in the AffinityPlex is not open at this time.

“They’re still working on the logistics around it,” Reid said. “The biggest part of it is we don’t have the turf in right now, and they want to practice outdoors.

“We just met with FC Regina, and talked about the opportunities that we have around opening up the AffinityPlex, that’s probably going to happen right away here,” Reid added.

Reid says while the off time has been difficult for the bottom line, it was also an opportunity to complete some capital projects.

“For those of you that are coming to visit, you’re going to see these great, yellow things on the parking lot that we haven’t had in a while, and so the entire parking lot lining is being completed, so you are going to have to park in a parking stall,” Reid said. “We’ve completed the re-fixturing of all the lighting in the Cooperators (Centre), so it’s all LED lights. When you walk in there, things are going to be brighter than ever.”

There are now plans to have dressing rooms open by the beginning of August. Reid says those plans would also include allowing some spectators inside as well.