BGSU Ice Arena

With the endorsement and support of then President William T. Jerome and the Board of Trustees, construction of the Ice Arena began in the spring of 1965. Certainly, a number of additional people, such as Dr. Samuel Cooper, were also instrumental in this endeavor. The Ice Arena was completed in the winter of 1966 and opened in February 1967. The facility was constructed at the cost of 1.8 million dollars. In the fall of 1988, the BGSU Board of Trustees approved the installation of additional permanent seating in the north-end of the facility at a cost of $650,000. Seating capacity is listed at approximately 4,700 and overall capacity is 5,000.

The Ice Arena is presently in its 40thth full year of operation. The original intention was to operate the facility from September through May and close during the summer months. However, the Ice Arena has evolved into a nearly year-round operation. The facility is open eleven months of each year and closes only for five weeks in May and early June. During this “shut-down” period, major renovation, repair, and maintenance projects are undertaken