Noisemakers are banned at Vancouver's Olympic live sites, but Richmond is welcoming them.
The 17-day O Zone, billed as the biggest party of the 2010 Winter Olympics, will include a "bring your own drum" world beat night.
The home of the $178 million Richmond Olympic Oval speedskating rink announced Monday the O Zone would stretch from city hall to the Richmond Cultural Centre and into Minoru Park.
"It'll be free and it'll be family oriented," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "A time for our visitors and residents alike."
Brodie expects 15,000 people daily will enjoy the temporary outdoor ice rink, mainstage concerts with Tokyo Police Club and Bedouin Soundclash and a 42-metre Panasonic LED screen to watch the Games.
The only ice in Minoru Arena will be that keeping green Heineken bottles cold for the orange-clad Dutch speedskating fanatics and guests at Heineken Holland House.
Brodie said the site will be secured, but he doesn't expect airport-style security checkpoints.
The O Zone was originally planned near the riverside Oval, but was moved to city centre to save $4 million.
"That became infeasible for a number of reasons, finances were one," Brodie said. "The amount of infrastructure we have to work with at Minoru Park and city hall is considerably more than we would have had on River Road."
The city's $6.3 million budget is augmented by $2 million from Tourism Richmond and contributions from sponsors B.C. Lottery Corporation, Cold-FX, Coca-Cola and Panasonic.
