Grand Opening

A preview of the new rinks at UMD and Bemidji State

Complied by MHJ Staff

Next season two new ice arenas will open in Minnesota and, by all accounts, they will be among the best of the best. Here is a sneak preview of the new Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center (DECC) in Duluth and the new home of the Beavers in Bemidji.

The grand opening of Bemidji’s new home will coincide with their entrance into the WCHA next season.

UMD opens the new DECC in Duluth
For 44 seasons the DECC has been the home to the Bulldogs which, for the past many years, has meant the ’Dogs have played in the oldest building in the WCHA.

In fact, only three arenas in college hockey are older than the DECC: Ingalls Rink at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. opened in 1958; Starr Rink at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. opened in 1959; Meehan Auditorium at Brown University in Providence, R.I. opened in 1961, and Gutterson Fieldhouse at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt. opened in 1963.

But now it’s the Bulldogs turn, and next season UMD will play in one of the finest rinks in college hockey.

After many years of planning, a new 6,600 seat arena is being added to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. Nearly three years after Duluth citizens voted to help fund it, the new arena broke ground on April 13, 2009.

The new facility will provide expanded opportunities at UMD men’s and women’s games, as well as play host to major entertainers, more conventions, larger trade shows and other events. The new arena opens with a men’s game on Dec. 30, 2010, and a grand opening event including the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 31, 2010.

Much of the funding for the project came from the state of Minnesota, which is funding nearly 50 percent of the $80 million cost, and voters approved a three-fourths of one percent increase in the city food and beverage tax, which will fund 27 percent. The University will fund 12 percent and the DECC will fund the remaining 11 percent.

Bemidji
Not only will the Beavers open a new facility this Fall, but they also will mark their first season as a member of the WCHA.

“The pieces are all falling into place for Bemidji State hockey,” stated BSU Director of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb last summer. “Beginning with the efforts to elevate our hockey programs to the NCAA Division I level and having the women's program join the WCHA over 10 years ago, to our partnership with the city to see a world-class venue like the Bemidji Regional Event Center come to fruition, and now the men's hockey program being approved for membership into the elite conference in all of college hockey. We want to thank the city of Bemidji, our dedicated fans and the student body who have supported Bemidji State hockey. ”

Said Bemidji State men's hockey coach Tom Serratore, “This is a great day for the Beavers. I want to thank the WCHA for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to be a part of the greatest hockey conference at the Division I level and we feel privileged to come along side the other Division I hockey programs in the state of Minnesota as members of the WCHA.”

The 4000-seat arena boasts 25 event suites, club seating and a lounge to not only accommodate Bemidji State University's Division I hockey programs, but also to provide an attractive venue for trade shows, concerts, convocations and other events.

Plans for the facility got a boost in November 2006, when residents of the city of Bemidji voted to support extending the one-half percent sales tax to support the construction of the event center. Then, in January 2006, Governor Pawlenty announced his support for the center, and the Minnesota Legislature authorized $3 million in planning funds as part of the 2006 session. In April 2008, Governor Pawlenty signed the 2008 bonding bill, which included $20 million for the Bemidji Regional Events Center.

And, as they say, the rest is history!