AMSOIL Arena facts for kids
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| Address | 350 Harbor Drive Duluth, MN 55802 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Duluth Entertainment Convention Center |
| Operator | Duluth Entertainment Convention Center |
| Capacity | 6,726 (Hockey) 9,264 (Concerts) |
| Record attendance | 8,372 |
| Surface | 85' x 200' (Ice) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 2008 |
| Opened | December 30, 2010 |
| Construction cost | $80 million ($107 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Populous (formerly HOK Sport) SJA Architects |
| General contractor | Mortenson/Thor |
| Tenants | |
| UMD Bulldogs men's hockey (NCHC) (2010–present) UMD Bulldogs women's hockey (WCHA) (2011–present) |
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AMSOIL Arena is a cool place in Duluth, Minnesota. It's a big building where many different events happen. It's especially known as the home for the men's and women's hockey teams from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
The arena first opened its doors on December 30, 2010. It took the place of the older DECC Arena, which was also located near Duluth's famous Aerial Lift Bridge.
A company called AMSOIL, which is based nearby, paid $6 million to have the arena named after them for 20 years. This helped a lot with the building costs.
Contents
Building AMSOIL Arena
How AMSOIL Arena Was Built
Building AMSOIL Arena cost almost $80 million! Many different groups helped pay for it. The State of Minnesota paid about half the cost. The city of Duluth also helped, using money from a special food and beverage tax. The University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) and the DECC (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) also contributed.
Construction started in September 2008 and finished in December 2010. Along with the arena, a large parking garage was built. It even has a special walkway, called a skywalk, that connects right to the arena!
First Games and Big Crowds
The very first event at AMSOIL Arena was a hockey game on December 30, 2010. The UMD men's hockey team played against North Dakota. Even though UMD lost, a huge crowd of 6,764 fans came to watch!
In their first year playing in the new arena, the UMD men's hockey team won the national championship! That was a fantastic start for their new home. Later, in 2012, the arena hosted a big women's college hockey tournament. The Minnesota Golden Gophers team won that exciting game.
AMSOIL Arena has seen some really big crowds. The largest crowd ever was 8,372 people on June 20, 2018, for a special event. For a sporting event, the record was set on January 25, 2020. On that day, 7,711 fans watched the UMD men's hockey team play their rivals from North Dakota.
A Better Place for Events
Old Arena vs. New Arena
AMSOIL Arena is much bigger and more modern than the old DECC Arena. Here's a quick look at some of the improvements:
| What's Different | Old DECC Arena | New AMSOIL Arena |
|---|---|---|
| Hockey Seats | 5,100 | 6,726 |
| Food Stands | 28 | 35 + 6 extra |
| Special Club Space | 0 sq. ft. | 2000 sq. ft. |
| Private Suites | 0 | 16 |
| Leg Room | 31 inches | 34 inches (lower seats), 33 inches (upper seats) |
| Elevators | 1 | 3 |
| Scoreboard Size | 10' x 12' | 15' x 20' |
| Ice Rink Size | 85' x 190' | 85' x 200' |
What Happens at AMSOIL Arena?
Ice Hockey Action
Hockey is a huge part of AMSOIL Arena! It's the main home for both the men's and women's hockey teams from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. These teams play many exciting games here throughout the year.
The arena has also hosted big college hockey tournaments, like the NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Tournament in 2012 and again in 2023. In 2017, it hosted the Ice Breaker Tournament, where four college teams competed.
Besides college games, the arena is used for other hockey events. Sometimes, the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild team holds practices there that fans can watch. High school hockey tournaments and all-star games also take place on the ice.
Basketball Fun
AMSOIL Arena isn't just for hockey! It has hosted the famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team many times, including in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. For these games, a special basketball court from the Minnesota Lynx (a professional women's basketball team) is brought in from Minneapolis.
Other Cool Events
Many different kinds of events happen at AMSOIL Arena. Famous comedians like Jeff Dunham and Jim Gaffigan have performed there. You might also see amazing shows like Cirque du Soleil. The local AAD Shrine also holds its annual circus fundraiser at the arena every April.
Concerts are very popular at AMSOIL Arena. Many famous musicians and bands have played there, including Elton John, Michael Bublé, Jason Aldean, Kiss, Keith Urban, and Luke Combs. The very first non-sporting event was a concert by the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra on December 31, 2010.
The arena can also be changed to host large dinners or big meetings and conventions.
Awards and Recognition
AMSOIL Arena has won some impressive awards! In 2013, a group called Stadium Journey said it was the best stadium experience in both the United States and Canada. In 2014 and 2015, it was ranked as the second-best, just behind Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where the Baltimore Orioles baseball team plays.
Stadium Journey also named AMSOIL Arena the best college hockey arena in both 2014 and 2015.
Even The Wall Street Journal recognized AMSOIL Arena! They called it one of their 10 "Golden Zamboni" winners. This award highlights how unique and special the arena is among college hockey venues across the country.
