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Construction Begins on World’s Largest Ice arena at National Sports Center

Blaine, Minn. — The National Sports Center (NSC) announced that construction has begun on the expansion of the Schwan Super Rink at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

 

The addition of four additional ice sheets to the Schwan Super Rink would bring the total number of sheets at the facility to eight, making it the largest indoor ice facility in the world. The new sheets will be NHL size ice, and would be added to the south side of the existing arena. The original ice sheets are Olympic-size ice.

 

Kraus Anderson Companies of Circle Pines, Minn., is the contractor. The new arena is expected to open in October of 2006, in time for a full winter season of hockey, figure skating, broomball and other ice activities.

 

As part of the Schwan Super Rink expansion, the NSC will close the 38-year old Columbia Arena in Fridley. Selected Columbia Arena user groups, such as the Tri-City Hockey Association, will be granted rights to reserve ice at the new facility. Columbia Arena will continue to operate during the winter of 2005-2006, while the new ice sheets are constructed.

 

Kraus Anderson offered $3 million for the Columbia property. The company will then build the four new sheets of ice at the Schwan Super Rink for an additional $7 million. The original Schwan Super Rink opened in 1998, with a construction cost of $11.5 million.

 

The Centennial and Blaine Youth Hockey Associations have made down payments to reserve rights to purchase ice time on sheets 6 and 7 respectively. The Herb Brooks Foundation has made a down payment to reserve rights to ice time on sheet 8. The existing Columbia Arena users will be granted rights to ice time on sheet 5.

 

“After meeting the ice needs of our partners, we will have a challenge to accommodate any of the anticipated ice-time requests when we open in October,” said Schwan Super Rink Director Pete Carlson.

 

The new facility is now fully subscribed, but there may be limited opportunity for additional user groups. The NSC is establishing a waiting list for user groups interested in buying ice time, should it become available. For more information, contact Pete Carlson, at (763) 717-3881.