A new smoking policy at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will eliminated designated smoking areas outside the arena, prevent smokers from heading out the doors between periods and frisk patrons for cigs as they enter the arena.
A new smoking policy at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will eliminated designated smoking areas outside the arena, prevent smokers from heading out the doors between periods and frisk patrons for cigs as they enter the arena.
That’s one of the most repressive smoking policies we’ve ever seen at an arena; while smoking areas have been phased out of some venues, the decision to check incoming patrons for possession of cigarettes is sure to rankle some hardcore fans of the Victoria Salmon Kings (ECHL) and concert goers.
In fact, past behavior is forcing arena officials to take such a draconian approach. Keeping track of fans going in and out of the arena at hockey games proved to be a more difficult task than originally expected, while concert goers openly smoked during the concert despite the ban.
