By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The four partners in the Ice Arnea Project.
PREVIOUS STORY (9/24/2024): A First Look at the Design for the New Ice Arena
PREVIOUS STORY (10/18/2024): City of Northfield & Dundas Sign Funding Agreement For The New Ice Arena Project
PREVIOUS STORY (11/21/2024): Northfield Hockey Association Announces Fundraising Update
PREVIOUS STORY (12/2/2024): Hockey Association Shares Goals With Additional Fundraising For The New Ice Arena
PREVIOUS STORY (2/25/2025): Ice Arena Costs Higher Than Expected; Engineers Offer Alternatives To Lower the Cost
In yesterday’s news, we addressed the issue of the overall cost of the new ice arena and the value engineering being undertaken to lower the overall cost. After the report from the architects and engineers was heard about the ice arena, a report from the Northfield Hockey Association was given about their fundraising efforts.
Chris Kennelly, the Arena Committee Chair for the hockey association, announced that they have raised $3.716 million for the project so far. That donation includes the land donation, which was valued at $700,000, meaning that the association has raised $2.9 million in cash. Kennelly expressed optimism about raising additional funds, noting that College City Beverage and the Glenn-Hasse Family have committed to matching every donation until April 15th.
“I sit here in front of you today, telling you I firmly believe we will get to $4 million total. I’m very optimistic about that and hope to be above that and we love to keep running with this and bring it home.” – Chris Kennelly, Chair of the Northfield Hockey Association Ice Arena Committee at the 2/18/2025 City Council Work Session Meeting
Per the agreement the hockey association had with the other partners involved in the Ice Arena project, the first $2 million fundraised would go to lowering the overall cost of the ice arena. The additional fundraising by the hockey association would go to adding in extra items to the arena. However, with the addition in costs, Kennelly said at the council meeting that the group would be willing to revaluate what the donations would look like:
“So we’d certainly be up for some discussions above the money raised above $2 million going to help cover some of these overages if the project does come in over budget, further discussions will be held with the city on those around. So, but certainly some of the next $2 million. We should go to help pay for what’s in your base bid in front of you, if that makes sense. Everything above that. I would then be adding stuff that’s gonna be a bit of an alternative.” – Chris Kennelly, Chair of the Northfield Hockey Association Ice Arena Committee at the 2/18/2025 City Council Work Session Meeting
The most significant item that the Hockey Association wanted to add to the arena is concrete seating instead of aluminum bleachers, Kennelly stated the original estimate of the concrete seating would be $2 million. However, Kennelly noted that by working with the architects, they were able to find savings in the seating portion of the project. Kennelly stated that the savings could go to lowering the cost of the project. The additional items Kennelly noted that the Hockey Association would like to add to the project is the dryland training facility and improvements to the outdoor hockey rink:
“So the alternate says we see would be if we’re saying above that kind of 4,000,000 number would be certainly the dry land. What can we do on the outdoor sheet I think would be our most pressing things. We get that cooling system in there. Do we go? We’re not really looking at anything. Internal the building that needs to be added back. “ – Chris Kennelly, Chair of the Northfield Hockey Association Ice Arena Committee at the 2/18/2025 City Council Work Session Meeting
If you want to learn more about the ice arena or donate go to https://northfieldicearena.org/ . KYMN will also have Chris Kennelly in the KYMN studios next Tuesday at 7:20am.
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