Explosion of arena projects
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Share on DiggA rundown on hockey arena projects the bonding bill signed a month ago will assist:
BEMIDJI
Proposed facility: Bemidji Regional Events Center. It will have a 4,000-seat arena with a 50-foot ceiling and 25 suites - only one college arena (North Dakota's) has more -- and a lakeside conference facility.
Completion date: Jan. 1, 2011 (latest estimate).
Cost: About $75 million; $20 million from the bonding bill passed a month ago; the rest from a half-cent sales tax in Bemidji for 30 years, the arena lease with Bemidi State and, if needed, city belt-tightening.
Present facility: John S. Glas Fieldhouse, opened Nov. 17, 1967, seats 2,399 -- all on one side.
DULUTH
Proposed facility: Arena unnamed as yet. It will have 6,800 seats, wide concourses, more women's restrooms, better viewing areas for the disabled.
Completion date: Start of 2010-11 season.
Cost: $68 million: $38 million from bonding bill, rest from UMD lease and .075 percentage-point increase in Duluth's food and beverage tax.
Present facility: Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, opened in 1966, seats 5,300.
CROOKSTON
Proposed facility: Arena unnamed. It will have 1,500 seats in the main rink and one or two practice rinks.
Completion date: 2010-11 season.
Cost: $14.8 million; $10 million from bonding bill, rest from city funds for building improvements and fundraising.
Present facility: Crookston Civic Arena, built in late 1930s, expanded with second ice sheet in late 1970s.
ST. CLOUD
Facility: National Hockey Center
Proposed renovations: A new lobby, additional suites and locker rooms, better access for the disabled.
Completion date: Unavailable. Spring 2009 is probably the earliest work would start.
Cost: $14 million; $6.5 million from bonding bill, rest from fundraising
Present features: National Hockey Center was built in 1989. It has 5,763 seats, five VIP boxes, 12 locker rooms, athletic training room, fitness center, players lounge.
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Invest in Minnesota
These facilities will pay for themselves many times over. Replacing 40+ year old hockey arenas is inevitable and necessary. Delaying only … read more adds to the eventual cost. Smart money is buying construction and land in this depressed market.
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