Maine fans,

This was from HOCKEY-L and it is a description of North Dakota's new arena
being built.  Aside from the fact this interesting, I post this for two
reasons:

1.  I believe Maine will be the first team to play North Dakota in this
rink to start next season.

2.  How much longer will Maine be able to compete recruiting-wise with
buildings like this?  With BU opening a new rink too, I wonder if there
has been any consideration of a new building at Maine?  How great is the
need?

> >
> >   On Wednesday, I had the privilege of touring the
> > new
> > Ralph Engelstad Arena as a member of UND's marketing
> > committee.   The tour was simply amazing.  I didn't
> > take
> > notes, so what I'm relating here is strictly from
> > memory.  My apologies if I get any of it wrong.
> >
> >   The first big thrill was standing in Ralph
> > Engelstad's
> > private suite.  Okay, so the walls are about the
> > only
> > thing in it, but at least I can say I was there. :-)
> >
> >   Our tour guide told us that Engelstad personally
> > visited 35 of the newest hockey arenas around the
> > country
> > and asked people what they would do differently if
> > they
> > could start over again.  All that advice is
> > reflected in
> > the design of UND's new arena.
> >
> >   While I was in the construction manager's trailer
> > waiting for the rest of our group to arrive, I
> > looked at
> > the plans hanging on the wall. In the center was the
> > plan
> > for the main arena, which hadn't changed, but around
> > the
> > edges, you could see where new areas had been added
> > and
> > other areas had been revised.
> >
> >   The olympic-sized practice rink and an indoor
> > loading
> > and unloading area appeared to be late add-ons. The
> > main
> > entrance to the arena also looks as if it was either
> > enlarged or redesigned.  It's no wonder that the
> > cost has
> > gone from $50 million up to $85 million.
> >
> >   The tour guide said that Engelstad approves every
> > change made to the plans, which means that they fax
> > him
> > 20-30 times a day.  She also said that before any
> > money
> > is spent, they have to get at least three bids to
> > make
> > sure they're getting a good deal.  He doesn't waste
> > a
> > dime.
> >
> >  Now for the big news.  We were told that the
> > Minnesota
> > Wild has signed a 5-year contract to play pre-season
> > games at the new arena.  I would love to be able to
> > see
> > an NHL game in Grand Forks, even if it is just a
> > pre-
> > season game.
> >
> >   There are so many things that dazzled me about the
> > new
> > arena that if I can remember half of them, I'll be
> > doing
> > well.
> >
> >   The new arena contains 48 suites that sell for
> > $25,000
> > each.  All of them have been sold!  Our tour guide
> > said
> > that they wish they would have put more suites into
> > the
> > arena because people are still asking to buy them.
> >
> >   Each suite contains two rows of seats.  One row is
> > outside the suite and directly behind the crowd.
> > The
> > other row is inside the suite, which allows you to
> > close
> > a sliding glass door to screen out the noise of the
> > game.
> > If you're into crowd participation, you can sit in
> > the
> > outside seats. There's a restaurant in the arena and
> > all
> > suites will be able to place orders to it. Each
> > suite
> > also has its own bathroom and a bar.
> >
> >   Speaking of bars, the public lounge area at one
> > end of
> > the arena will have the largest free-standing bar in
> > North Dakota.  There will be another lounge at the
> > other end of the arena strictly for members of UND's
> > Fighting Sioux Club.  Nobody will be allowed to
> > drink in
> > the main arena.  Also, the areas serving booze will
> > be
> > separated from the other concessions.
> >
> >   The weight room is huge.  Rather than treadmills,
> > they
> > will have exercise machines that simulate the
> > skating
> > motion.  There are also rehab facilities and
> > equipment
> > that will allow an injured player to get everything
> > he
> > needs without having to leave the building.
> >
> >   We were shown the extra-large hot tub, which
> > hasn't
> > been installed yet.  They had to get it in the
> > building
> > before it was completed because it wouldn't have fit
> > through any of the doors.  The damn thing is almost
> > as
> > big as my living room!  Our guide said that the
> > entire
> > team could fit in the hot tub at the same time.  Why
> > they
> > would want to is a question that wasn't answered.
> > :-)
> >
> >   There is also a hot and cold tub to help heal
> > injuries.  It includes a video camera that allows
> > trainers to observe how injuries are responding
> > underwater.  Our guide wasn't sure why this was
> > important, but apparently it is.  We were also told
> > that a women's locker room is being included.
> >
> >   The olympic ice sheet will be made available for
> > local
> > teams to use and practice on.  It can be divided
> > into
> > three separate pee-wee and bantam-size rinks.  The
> > locker
> > rooms are being designed so that during tournaments,
> > each
> > participating team will have its own space for the
> > entire event.
> >
> >   Another nice feature will be TV screens in the
> > concession areas, lounges and -- get this --
> > bathrooms.
> > Almost anywhere you go in the building, you can keep
> > track of what's going on in the game.
> >
> >   The main entrance to the arena will be very
> > impressive.  It has a massive domed skylight over
> > it.
> > Besides the ticket office, there will be a pro shop
> > to
> > buy hockey equipment and Sioux sportswear.  Also in
> > this
> > area will be the UND Hockey Hall of Fame containing
> > a display of UND's greatest players and videos of
> > great
> > moments in Sioux hockey history.  Dean Blais will
> > have an
> > office on the second level with windows overlooking
> > the
> > main entrance.
> >
> >   Running completely around the inside the main
> > arena
> > will be a digital display banner that will be used
> > for
> > advertising and to get the crowd fired up.  This is
> > a
> > feature found in many new NHL arenas.  There will be
> > a
> > huge scoreboard hanging in the center of the arena
> > with
> > four monster TV screens.
> >
> >   There will be a section for about 2,000 students
> > and it
> > is right next to the ice.  Engelstad felt it was
> > important to keep the old arena's atmosphere by
> > having
> > the students involved in the games.
> >
> >   Although the main focus of arena events will be
> > hockey
> > and other ice-related activities, it will also have
> > a concert stage and can be converted to play
> > basketball. Our guide told us
> > that the management of the Engelstad
> > Arena would work with the management of the Alerus
> > Center
> > to coordinate events for both facilities to avoid
> > competing against each other.
> >
> >   That's all I can remember for now, but I think
> > it's
> > enough to give you an idea of what the new Engelstad
> > Arena will be like.  I can hardly wait!
> >
> >                --Pat
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
>
>
> =====
> Matt Sullivan
> Group Insurance Specialist
> The Sullivan Agency, LTD.
> www.sullivanagency.com
>
> University of Minnesota Duluth, 1998
> BU-LL-DO-G-S  GOOOOO Bulldogs!!!!
>
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