Arena: The legacy of hockey, figure skating and even dog shows
Published on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 4:41 p.m.
- Workers prepare to pour concrete into the arena's rink floor in the mid-1970s. The ice in the foreground is named “Nystrom Rink” after a man who served as a hockey coach for many years, and the ice in the back is named “Kolstrup Rink” after a man who served as a figure skating coach for many years.offered
Editor's note: The following is the third of four articles related to facilities that are part of the City of Albert Lea's upcoming referendum.
What do hockey, figure skating and dog shows have in common? In Albert Lea, they're all based at City Arena (701 Lake Chapeau Drive). For almost 50 years, the arena has supported a wide variety of recreation. This proves that Albert Lea is committed to recreation for all generations.
The city converted the former Lee University Field House into an ice arena in the mid-1970s. It opened in 1976 with a ribbon cutting by then-Mayor Paul Larimore and representatives from School District 241. The first hockey player to take to the ice represented his two teams in the Park League Squirts. Members of the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club performed to “The Nutcracker Suite.”
Twenty-two years later, hockey advocates and the city partnered to add a second sheet of ice. Thanks to diligent maintenance, his original refrigeration system is still working 26 years later. The rink, often referred to as Back-She-Ice, is officially known as the Colstrup-His Rink, in honor of Carol Colstrup, one of the figure skating club's founders and longtime coach. It is named. The front ice is named the Nystrom Rink, after Roy Nystrom, the longtime coach of the Albert Lea High School boys hockey team.
For decades, the arena has supported hockey at many levels, from college to university, as well as numerous other activities. The arena is home to the Albert Lea Hockey Association, high school hockey teams, figure skating club, Freeborn County Kennel Club (off the ice), and the Forest City Waldorf University hockey team.
With 49,000 annual visitors, 220 hockey games, 10 to 12 tournaments a season, an annual dog show, and an annual figure skating show, the arena is the city's most used facility.
The Department of Recreation estimates the economic impact of youth hockey alone, spent at local hotels, restaurants and other businesses, at $1 million per season.
The city recently replaced the roof on the flat part of the building and some of the interior flooring. Barrier-free viewing seats have also been installed.
Albert Lea voters will decide April 9 whether to support funding for a new refrigeration system for both rinks, a new floor for the practice rink, defrost removal under that floor and drainage repairs. decided on. The proposal also calls for enlarging the lobby and implementing several projects to conserve energy.
The proposal, totaling $9.8 million, would improve the City Arena, Marion Ross Theater, Aquatic Center and Splash Pad.
