Lee and Penny Anderson Arena

Last updated

Lee and Penny Anderson Arena
Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Rendering.png
Proposal rendering
Lee and Penny Anderson Arena
Location Saint Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°56′22″N93°11′40″W / 44.9395°N 93.1945°W / 44.9395; -93.1945
Owner University of St. Thomas
Capacity 4,000 (ice hockey) [1]
5,000 (basketball) [1]
6,000 (concerts, university commencements) [1]
Construction
Broke groundSpring 2024 (planned) [1]
OpenedFall 2025 (planned) [1]
Construction cost$175 million [1]
ArchitectRyan A+E [2]
Crawford Architects [3]
Structural engineerMeyer Borgman Johnson [2]
Services engineerIMEG [2]
General contractor Ryan Companies US, Inc. [3]
Tenants
University of St. Thomas men's basketball
University of St. Thomas women's basketball
University of St. Thomas men's hockey
University of St. Thomas women's hockey

Lee and Penny Anderson Arena is a proposed indoor arena located on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. [3] The facility is planned to be the home arena of the St. Thomas basketball and hockey teams. [1]

Contents

History

In 2020, St. Thomas received approval to move its athletics programs directly from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I [4] as a result of being removed from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. [5] At the time, it was noted that athletics facilities would need to be assessed, due to Division I's elevated requirements. Continued use of existing facilities, leasing other facilities, or building new facilities were all listed as options. [6] Since 2003, St. Thomas' men's and women's hockey teams have played at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights. With a capacity of just 1,000, it is the third-smallest arena in Division I men's hockey. [7]

In February 2022, St. Thomas offered $61.4 million to purchase nearby Town & Country Club, with the intent to build athletic facilities on the site. [8] The country club's board of directors voted to reject the offer. [9]

In June 2022, it was reported that the university planned to build sports facilities, including a new hockey arena, at the former Ford Motor Company Twin Cities Assembly Plant redevelopment site known as Highland Bridge. [10] In July 2022, St. Thomas announced it no longer planned to build a hockey arena at the Highland Bridge site and would focus on on-campus locations. [11]

On January 17, 2023, St. Thomas announced that it had received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson to construct a multiuse on-campus arena in St. Paul. [3] With a total project cost estimated to be $175 million, the arena would be home to St. Thomas' basketball and hockey teams. [3] The arena would also host commencement, speakers, career fairs, and other events for the broader community, such as concerts. [3] Three buildings will need to be demolished to make room for the arena, including Cretin Hall, a dormitory designed by Cass Gilbert and built in 1894. [12]

In addition to the removal of three buildings, several surface lots will be removed, resulting in the net loss of over 250 parking spaces. Because of this, the university is exploring increased public transportation options, scheduling high-attendance events on weekends, and parking restrictions during events. [13]

In November 2023, residents living in the nearby neighborhood filed a petition to the Minnesota Court of Appeals to block construction of the project, releasing a statement which called the project's submitted environmental assessment misleading. The group's main concerns were lack of parking accommodations for the many expected events throughout the year. Combined with construction of the adjacent Schoenecker Center on the university's south campus, construction of the arena is set to result in a net loss of approximately 390 parking stalls. [14]

Design

The arena's design is in a Gothic architectural style featuring Kasota limestone, [1] similar to many other buildings on campus. [15]

It will be designed such that quick conversions can be made between hockey, basketball and other events. [15] The complex will also house basketball and hockey practice facilities, including a second ice sheet. [16]

LEED Silver certification will be sought, a sustainability benchmark for green building certification. [15] The arena is pursuing utilizing both geothermal energy and groundwater to be the first sustainable ice rink in the US and one of the most efficient ice rinks in the world. [17]

Criticism

Advocates believed the environmental analysis for the arena was inadequate due to failing to fully assess greenhouse gases generated by the arena and increased traffic. The Minnesota Court of Appeals will consider the lawsuit on April 25, 2024. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)</span> Catholic university in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota

The University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic research university with campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1885 as a Catholic seminary, it is named after Thomas Aquinas, the medieval Catholic theologian and philosopher who is the patron saint of students. As of fall 2021, St. Thomas enrolled 9,347 students, making it Minnesota's largest private, nonprofit university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobey Baker Memorial Rink</span> Hockey arena in New Jersey, U.S.

Hobey Baker Memorial Rink is a 2,092-seat hockey arena in Princeton, New Jersey. It is home to the Princeton University Tigers men's and women's ice hockey teams as well as the venue for club and intramural hockey teams, intramural broomball, figure skating and recreational skating. It is the only ice skating rink on the Princeton University campus. It is named in honor of former Princeton star Hobart A.H. "Hobey" Baker, '14. Baker was a football and hockey star who died shortly after World War I. In December 1921, it was decided to build an on-campus arena for the hockey team, and to name it after Baker. Efforts to modernize the arena began in the mid-1970s with major improvements including the addition of locker rooms, a skate sharpening room and a stick storage room in 1981, a new scoreboard and lighting improvements in 1984 and a renovation of the roof in 2002. It is the second-oldest arena still in use in NCAA Division I hockey, behind only Matthews Arena at Northeastern University; however, Northeastern has only played at Matthews Arena since 1930, giving Princeton the distinction of being the school that has played in its current home the longest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum</span> Hockey arena in Connecticut

Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum is a 2,000-seat hockey rink in Storrs, Connecticut. It is the former home arena and current practice facility for the University of Connecticut women's and men's college ice hockey teams. It opened on November 7, 1998, replacing the outdoor UConn Ice Arena, which was in use since the 1960s. The Forum was constructed as part of the UCONN 2000 commitment by the State of Connecticut to help rebuild, renew, and enhance the campuses of the University of Connecticut. It was opened in time for the hockey team's elevation to Division I status. The arena was used for the 2000 MAAC Championship, the 2001 MAAC tournament, and the 2002 ECAC women's hockey tournament. It hosted the 2008 Hockey East Women's Tournament. The building was named for Mark E. Freitas '81, a former hockey letter winner and benefactor, on February 5, 2005.

Sports in Minnesota include professional teams in all major sports, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, especially in the Winter Olympics, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations and active amateur teams and individual sports. The State of Minnesota has a team in all five major professional leagues. Along with professional sports, there are numerous collegiate teams including the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and St. Thomas Tommies in NCAA Division I, as well as many others across the Minnesota public and private colleges and universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College ice hockey</span> US and Canadian amateur collegiate ice hockey competition

College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America.

The Penn State Ice Pavilion was a 1,350-seat ice arena on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University located in University Park, Pennsylvania, United States. The ice arena included an NHL regulation sized 200' x 85' ice sheet as well as a 45' x 55' studio ice sheet.

The Super Rink at National Sports Center is a 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) ice rink facility that features eight sheets of ice and is the largest ice arena complex in the world. It is located on the National Sports Center campus in Blaine, Minnesota, a northern suburb of Minneapolis – Saint Paul.

The LaHaye Ice Center is a 4,000-seat ice arena located in Lynchburg, Virginia on the campus of Liberty University. The ice arena is also the home to the Liberty Flames men's and women's ice hockey teams that currently compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association as independent teams in the ACHA Division I. In addition to LU's varsity teams, the Liberty JV team, Virginia Military Institute, and Lynchburg College teams at the ACHA Division II level playing in the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference also use the arena. And for LU's synchronized skating team. The ice arena is also used for various recreational uses by students and local public for ice skating, figure skating, ice hockey, and broomball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MedStar Capitals Iceplex</span> Practice arena of the Washington Capitals

MedStar Capitals Iceplex is the practice arena of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. The highest ice rink above street-level in the United States, it is located on the eighth floor atop the parking garage adjoining the Ballston Quarter in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia.

The UConn Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Connecticut. The Huskies are a member of the Hockey East conference. The Huskies play in the on-campus Toscano Family Ice Forum, having moved from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut during the 2022–23 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pegula Ice Arena</span>

The Pegula Ice Arena is a 6,014-seat multi-purpose arena in University Park, Pennsylvania on the campus of Penn State University. The facility is located on the corner of Curtin Road and University Drive near the Bryce Jordan Center. The arena is named after Kim and Terry Pegula for their donations to fund the arena and it replaced the 1,350-seat Penn State Ice Pavilion.

Lee Reuben Anderson Sr. is an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the owner and chairman of the Minnesota-based API Group Inc., a holding company for numerous construction and fire-protection firms. His charitable interests include children's health, higher education, and the welfare of American military veterans.

The St. Thomas Tommies men's basketball team represents the University of St. Thomas, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in NCAA Division I as a member of the Summit League where they have been a member since their Division I debut in 2021.

The St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies men's ice hockey team represents the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in NCAA Division I ice hockey.

St. Thomas Ice Arena is a 1,000-seat ice hockey arena in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Opened in 2003, it is home to the University of St. Thomas Tommies ice hockey programs in addition to the Saint Thomas Academy boys hockey team.

The St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies women's ice hockey team represents the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in NCAA Division I competition in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings men's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Augustana Vikings men's ice hockey is a NCAA Division I ice hockey team that began play in the fall of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullett Arena</span> Venue in Tempe, Arizona

Mullett Arena is an indoor multipurpose arena at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toscano Family Ice Forum</span>

The Toscano Family Ice Forum is an ice hockey arena on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. The arena opened in January 2023 and has a capacity of 2,600 spectators.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Borzi, Pat (January 17, 2023). "St. Thomas receives record-setting $75 million gift to build new sports arena on campus". MinnPost. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Fabris, Peter (March 30, 2023). "New University of St. Thomas sports arena will support school's move to Division I athletics". Building Design + Construction. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "St. Thomas Announces Record-Breaking, $75 Million Gift for Multiuse Arena". University of St. Thomas. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ Christensen, Joe; Ryan, Megan. "St. Thomas gets approval from NCAA to go Division I". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ Medcalf, Myron (May 22, 2019). "St. Thomas wins too much, kicked out of MIAC". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ Scoggins, Chip; Christensen, Joe. "St. Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Randy. "New opportunities, challenges for St. Thomas hockey in Division I". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ Melo, Frederick (February 22, 2022). "Seeking hockey arena, St. Thomas makes $61.4 million unsolicited bid for Town & Country golf course". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Keefer, Winter (February 23, 2022). "Town & Country Club Rejects Golf Course Bid from St. Thomas". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ Melo, Frederick (June 5, 2022). "University of St. Thomas eyes Highland Bridge for Division I hockey, baseball, softball venues". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Melo, Frederick (July 7, 2022). "St. Thomas pulls Division I hockey stadium plan out of Highland Bridge, but baseball, softball remain". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ Navratil, Liz. "University of St. Thomas announces record-setting donation for new sports arena". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ Heilman, Dan (July 12, 2023). "St. Thomas arena project taking shape in St. Paul | Finance & Commerce". Finance & Commerce. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  14. ↑ Melo, Frederick (November 2, 2023). "Opponents petition courts for environmental review of proposed St. Thomas arena in St. Paul". TwinCities.com. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "Ryan Companies to build Lee and Penny Anderson Arena". Sports Venue Business (SVB). January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ Myers, Jess (January 17, 2023). "'It's a game-changer': Record $75 million gift makes on-campus St. Thomas hockey, hoops facility a reality". The Rink Live. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  17. ↑ Orr, Madelyn; Mathiowetz, Aubrey (May 11, 2023). "Lee and Penny Anderson Arena opens possibility of the most sustainable ice rink in the nation". TommieMedia. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  18. ↑ "University of St. Thomas' Lee and Penny Anderson Arena under scrutiny for possible environmental impacts". WCCO. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.