July 30, 2009
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Bowling Green to Get $4 Million For Arena Improvements
CHN Staff Report
Bowling Green gave its strongest sign yet that the program will survive, with the announcement today that $4 million will go towards renovating the outdated Bowling Green Ice Arena.
The school's administration will commit $2.5 million in capital improvement toward the renovation, with the state kicking in $1.5 million.
The hockey program was in danger of being dropped by the university as a budget-cutting measure, but an outpouring of support led to numerous talks over the last few months between the athletic department, school administration and alumni about how to save the program.
There have been a number of positive signs since then, with this being the biggest signal so far.
According to BGSU president Carol Cartwright, the university accepted the state funds recognizing that a University contribution would be necessary.
"These funds are clearly needed to keep the facility viable. That is important for the Bowling Green community and the University," Cartwright said.
In June, the university announced it had engaged Bentz Whaley Flessner, a national fund-raising consulting firm, to assess the potential of a fund-raising campaign for the ice arena renovations and scholarship endowments for the BGSU hockey program. The study is expected to be completed by the end of August.
Cartwright added that she hopes the university's commitment will jumpstart the campaign.
"I believe this is an important show of good faith," Cartwright said. "I am confident that the funds necessary to ensure the future of the arena and BGSU hockey can be raised. I want to make it very clear that we want this effort to succeed."
