Lee and Penny Anderson Arena is an indoor arena under construction[1] on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[4] The facility is planned to be the home arena of the St. Thomas basketball and hockey teams.[1]
 Proposal rendering | |
 | |
| Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°56′22″N 93°11′40″W / 44.9395°N 93.1945°W |
| Owner | University of St. Thomas |
| Capacity | 4,000 (ice hockey)[1] 5,000 (basketball)[1] 6,000 (concerts, university commencements)[1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2024[1][2] |
| Opened | Fall 2025 (planned)[1] |
| Construction cost | $175 million[1] |
| Architect | Ryan A+E[3] Crawford Architects[4] |
| Structural engineer | Meyer Borgman Johnson[3] |
| Services engineer | IMEG[3] |
| General contractor | Ryan Companies US, Inc.[4] |
| Tenants | |
| University of St. Thomas men's basketball University of St. Thomas women's basketball University of St. Thomas men's hockey University of St. Thomas women's hockey | |
History
editIn 2020, St. Thomas received approval to move its athletics programs directly from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I[5] as a result of being removed from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.[6] At the time, it was noted that athletics facilities would need to be assessed, due to Division I's elevated requirements. Continued use of existing facilities, leasing other facilities, or building new facilities were all listed as options.[7] Since 2003, St. Thomas' men's and women's hockey teams have played at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights. With a capacity of just 1,000, it is the third-smallest arena in Division I men's hockey.[8]
In February 2022, St. Thomas offered $61.4 million to purchase nearby Town & Country Club, with the intent to build athletic facilities on the site.[9] The country club's board of directors voted to reject the offer.[10]
In June 2022, it was reported that the university planned to build sports facilities, including a new hockey arena, at the former Ford Motor Company Twin Cities Assembly Plant redevelopment site known as Highland Bridge.[11] In July 2022, St. Thomas announced it no longer planned to build a hockey arena at the Highland Bridge site and would focus on on-campus locations.[12]
On January 17, 2023, St. Thomas announced that it had received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson to construct a multiuse on-campus arena in St. Paul.[4] With a total project cost estimated to be $175 million, the arena would be home to St. Thomas' basketball and hockey teams.[4] The arena would also host commencement, speakers, career fairs, and other events for the broader community, such as concerts.[4] Three buildings will need to be demolished to make room for the arena, including Cretin Hall, a dormitory designed by Cass Gilbert and built in 1894.[13]
In addition to the removal of three buildings, several surface lots will be removed, resulting in the net loss of over 250 parking spaces. Because of this, the university is exploring increased public transportation options, scheduling high-attendance events on weekends, and parking restrictions during events.[14]
In November 2023, residents living in the nearby neighborhood filed a petition to the Minnesota Court of Appeals to block construction of the project, releasing a statement which called the project's submitted environmental assessment misleading. The group's main concerns were lack of parking accommodations for the many expected events throughout the year. Combined with construction of the adjacent Schoenecker Center on the university's south campus, construction of the arena is set to result in a net loss of approximately 390 parking stalls.[15]
Design
editThe arena's design is in a Gothic architectural style featuring Kasota limestone,[1] similar to many other buildings on campus.[16]
It will be designed such that quick conversions can be made between hockey, basketball and other events.[16] The complex will also house basketball and hockey practice facilities, including a second ice sheet.[17]
LEED Silver certification will be sought, a sustainability benchmark for green building certification.[16] The arena is pursuing utilizing both geothermal energy and groundwater to be the first sustainable ice rink in the US and one of the most efficient ice rinks in the world.[18]
Criticism
editAdvocates believed the environmental analysis for the arena was inadequate due to failing to fully assess greenhouse gases generated by the arena and increased traffic. Construction on the arena was halted after the Advocates for Responsible Development appealed the arena’s site plans to the St. Paul City Planning Commission, but the City ruled in favor of St. Thomas, and construction resumed. The Minnesota Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on the lawsuit on April 11, 2024.[19] The Court ruled that the first Environmental Assesment Worksheet was invalid, and that St. Thomas must complete a new one, a decision that St. Thomas has since appealed and is awaiting further debate.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Borzi, Pat (January 17, 2023). "St. Thomas receives record-setting $75 million gift to build new sports arena on campus". MinnPost. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Walsh, James. "St. Thomas will appeal ruling on planned arena in St. Paul, resumes construction". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Fabris, Peter (March 30, 2023). "New University of St. Thomas sports arena will support school's move to Division I athletics". Building Design + Construction. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "St. Thomas Announces Record-Breaking, $75 Million Gift for Multiuse Arena". University of St. Thomas. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Christensen, Joe; Ryan, Megan. "St. Thomas gets approval from NCAA to go Division I". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Medcalf, Myron (May 22, 2019). "St. Thomas wins too much, kicked out of MIAC". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Scoggins, Chip; Christensen, Joe. "St. Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Randy. "New opportunities, challenges for St. Thomas hockey in Division I". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Melo, Frederick (February 22, 2022). "Seeking hockey arena, St. Thomas makes $61.4 million unsolicited bid for Town & Country golf course". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Keefer, Winter (February 23, 2022). "Town & Country Club Rejects Golf Course Bid from St. Thomas". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Melo, Frederick (June 5, 2022). "University of St. Thomas eyes Highland Bridge for Division I hockey, baseball, softball venues". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Melo, Frederick (July 7, 2022). "St. Thomas pulls Division I hockey stadium plan out of Highland Bridge, but baseball, softball remain". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Navratil, Liz. "University of St. Thomas announces record-setting donation for new sports arena". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Heilman, Dan (July 12, 2023). "St. Thomas arena project taking shape in St. Paul | Finance & Commerce". Finance & Commerce. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Melo, Frederick (November 2, 2023). "Opponents petition courts for environmental review of proposed St. Thomas arena in St. Paul". TwinCities.com. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Ryan Companies to build Lee and Penny Anderson Arena". Sports Venue Business (SVB). January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Myers, Jess (January 17, 2023). "'It's a game-changer': Record $75 million gift makes on-campus St. Thomas hockey, hoops facility a reality". The Rink Live. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Orr, Madelyn; Mathiowetz, Aubrey (May 11, 2023). "Lee and Penny Anderson Arena opens possibility of the most sustainable ice rink in the nation". TommieMedia. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "University of St. Thomas' Lee and Penny Anderson Arena under scrutiny for possible environmental impacts". WCCO. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.