University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

[moose97]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

Didn't Crookston just build a 870,000 sqft building with 3 sheets for around 15 million, seating for 1200 on the main rink

Yes. Yes they did.

I hear you. One of the models they are using is Goggin at Miami, which was about $35 million and has two sheets. RIT has a way of getting things done when it comes to buildings, so I am sure it will be a good arena. We've already got a donation of a $1 million video scoreboard (HD, I believe) ... don't know if that would count as part of the $30 million. The deal is that $15 million has to come from donations and RIT will put in the other $15 million (with a business plan that will somehow recoup that ... RIT also has a knack for not throwing money away). The current arena will remain, so we will actually have two sheets on campus.

(Maybe private $$ go farther than government $$ ????)

I look forward to seeing what you guys come up with. Outside the correction in 2009, inflation has hurt the construction industry. A $35 million building opened in 2005 wouldn't cost that same $35 million today. Consider that the Sanford Center in Bemidji came in under budget by $10 million dollars. All because steel prices dropped like a rock. Now, steel is back up. It's amazing what happened in that industry in a disastrous 2009 and now 2010 to now. Literally, every taconite plant on the Iron Range in NE Minnesota closed in 2009 because of the recession, and drop in steel demand. They all re-opened in 2010, and hired new staff too. Bemidji and Duluth benefited from ordering steel when no one else did, and their rinks cost $50 and $80 million (and Bemidji was that $10 mil under budget, and Duluth added several alt-adds they didn't think they could afford).

http://ironrangeresources.org/rangev...ern-minnesota/

Mariucci has a rather small seating capacity compared to other venues...

Compared to what? Xcel Center? Mariucci is the 5th largest rink in college hockey and is only smaller than Wisconsin and Ohio State (who doesn't even draw 25% of capacity to their 17,500 seat rink) in the new B1G.

[JDUBBS1280]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

Compared to what? Xcel Center? Mariucci is the 5th largest rink in college hockey and is only smaller than Wisconsin and Ohio State (who doesn't even draw 25% of capacity to their 17,500 seat rink) in the new B1G.

Sorry, very poor wording on my part. What I meant to say (but did a horrible job of it) is that despite not having the largest arena of the Big 10 teams, the Gophers are by far the most profitable. And that is because of their TV contract more than anything else.

Thanks for the correction

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

This is so awesome. In college I was a UIUC season ticket holder and megaphone-carrying member of the Harrassing Illini. Illinois hockey is growing. But there is no way in hell they could do it with the rink they have now. I would LOVE for the Illini to have D-1 hockey. They'd never replace tUMD for me, but I'd be a fan!

[Vance]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

$30 mil even sounds a bit low (but in the AHA, it's likely to be one of the nicer buildings). Amsoil was $80 million and the Sanford Center was $50 mil. And those buildings benefited from the cheap prices of the 2009 construction season. Had they been built in 2007 or 2008 they would have cost at least 10% more on steel alone.

Sheesh, I never knew it cost that much to build these arenas. How can universities afford all this?

[Snively65]

Sheesh, I never knew it cost that much to build these arenas. How can universities afford all this?

Projected $45 mil if Bentley (Waltham, Mass.) decides to build a 2500-seat arena on campus to open in 2017. As RITProf noted back in 2011, about half the costs must come from gifts.

[LTsatch]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

Right next to the swine research center, will fit right in with the western conference of their choice. Change the team name to Illinois Flying Pigs while we are at it.

[joecct]

Sheesh, I never knew it cost that much to build these arenas. How can universities afford all this?

Universities don't pay for these things, silly. Donors and students pay for them.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

Seeing this thread come back from the dead sure made me expect something...

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: University of Illinois plans for new Ice Arena in Research Park

Seeing this thread come back from the dead sure made me expect something...

Not to mention how close we are to April 1st...