April 8, 2008
Minn. Governor Approves New Arenas
CHN Staff Report
Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty signed a bonding bill yesterday that provides for new ice arenas for Bemidji State and Minnesota-Duluth.
The measure had already passed through the legislature, but Pawlenty line-item vetoed the bill from just under $1 billion down to just over $700 million. In the process, however, he spared the new facilities.
Funding includes $22 million for the Bemidji Regional Events Center, which would include a new hockey arena for the BSU Beavers. (See images of the plans.) It was widely considered, including by the school itself, that a new arena was needed in order to maintain the viability of the men's hockey program.
Also approved was $40 million in funding for the renovation and expansion of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, home of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Built in 1966, the DECC currently holds approximately 5,300 for hockey. A new facility would hold 6,500.
St. Cloud State's National Hockey Center will get $10 million to remodel and expand.
There aren't any comments yet for this article. Add a comment in the form on the left.
