UConn starts work on hockey arena
Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalfe was on hand for the groundbreaking for a new arena for UConn’s men’s and women’s hockey teams on the Storrs campus.
STORRS — The University of Connecticut broke ground on a new 2,600-seat ice hockey rink for its men’s and women’s ice hockey teams Saturday at the Storrs campus.
“Today is a great day for UConn and a great day for our program,” UConn women’s hockey head coach Chris Mackenzie said during his speech.
This project came a day after the athletic department announced a new five-year contract extension for men’s hockey head coach Mike Cavanaugh.
Both programs had success this year — as the men earned its first top-20 ranking and the women knocked off Boston College in the first round of the Women’s Hockey East Playoffs.
There were notable attendees and speakers at the event, including Hockey East Commissioner
Steve Metcalfe, Board of Trustees Chairman Dan Toscano and UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma.
With the new rink undergoing construction, here’s all you need to know about the project.
What is it?
The project is set to include a 97,300 square foot hockey rink as well as improvements to a nearby parking lot.
“Everything is going to be in place, like we have over here with the Rizza Performance Center, for our students to reach their potential,” Athletic Director David Benedict said. “In addition, we want it to be a great facility for our fans.”
Outside of the ice and seating areas, the rink will include a number of amenities, according to a team release from April 30. This includes two locker rooms — one
for each home and away team — a training space, coaches offices, press box, dining area and large scoreboard display above the ice.
Why are they building a new rink?
The current on-campus facility, the Mark E. Freitas Ice Forum, houses practices for both hockey teams as well as women’s hockey games. However, this building does not meet all Division I and Hockey East requirements — thus the requirement for a new rink.
Benedict also said Hockey East’s requirement for games to be played with 4,000 or more seats is no longer in place, so the men’s hockey team can play at this new arena at any time.
Where will it be located?
It is planned to be built near the current facility on Jim Calhoun Way in Storrs, Connecticut.
What will it cost?
The project has a $70 million budget, according to the release. In comparison, Gampel Pavilion — UConn’s multi-purpose on-campus arena that houses the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the volleyball team — cost $28 million, or about $57.2 million in today’s money, to build when it opened in 1990, according to the school.
In order to pay for the arena, the school has a plan to allocate $33 million from the sale of revenue bonds, which are to be repaid through “non-state sources” like facility revenue, according to the school.
The UConn Foundation is also confident they can raise at least $20 million from supporters to help. The remaining $17 million will come from in the form of university funding — $11.5 million of which will come from the sale of the UConn West Hartford campus and Nathan Hale iInn.
When is it going to be done?
The building is due to open in the fall of 2022. However, Cavanaugh said they were looking at January 2023, a timeline that Benedict also alluded to.
“We’re still in COVID-19 times, so take this with a grain of salt, but we’re hoping the completion is in approximately 18 months,” Benedict said.
What will happen to Mark E. Freitas Ice Forum?
The current on-campus hockey facility is not going anywhere at this time, according to the school. Once the new rink is opened, it will continue to be used for practices, club sports teams and community events.