AMSOIL Arena facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
AMSOIL Arena

Location	350 Harbor Drive Duluth, Minnesota 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)

AMSOIL Arena is a modern sports and event center located in Duluth, Minnesota. It is the proud home of the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) men's and women's hockey teams. The arena first opened its doors in 2010. It replaced the older Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) Arena. You can find it right on the waterfront, close to Duluth's famous Aerial Lift Bridge.

A company called AMSOIL bought the rights to name the arena for 20 years. They paid $6 million for this honor. The arena cost almost $80 million to build. About half of the money came from the State of Minnesota. The city of Duluth helped by using money from a special food and beverage tax. The University of Minnesota-Duluth and the DECC also contributed to the building costs. Construction began in September 2008 and finished in December 2010. The project also included a large parking garage with a special walkway connecting it to the arena.

The very first event at AMSOIL Arena was on December 30, 2010. The UMD men's hockey team played against North Dakota. Even though UMD lost, a large crowd of 6,764 fans came to watch. In their first season playing in the new arena, the UMD men's hockey team won the national championship! The arena also hosted the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Tournament in 2012.

The biggest crowd ever at AMSOIL Arena was 8,372 people. This happened on June 20, 2018, during a rally held by President Donald Trump. For a sporting event, the record attendance was 7,711 fans. This was on January 25, 2020, when the UMD men's hockey team played their rivals from North Dakota.

What Makes AMSOIL Arena Special?

AMSOIL Arena is much bigger and more modern than the old DECC Arena. Here's how they compare:

How the Arena is Used

Hockey Games

AMSOIL Arena is mainly a hockey arena. It's the home rink for both the men's and women's hockey teams from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In 2012, it hosted the national championship for women's college hockey.

The arena also hosted the Ice Breaker Tournament in October 2017. Four college teams played in this event. Other hockey events include practice sessions for the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild team. High school hockey tournaments for section 7A and 7AA are also held here, along with a high-school all-star game.

Basketball Games

Besides hockey, AMSOIL Arena has hosted the famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team many times. They played here in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. For these games, the court from the Minnesota Lynx (a professional women's basketball team) is brought up from Minneapolis.

A Harlem Globetrotters basketball game at AMSOIL Arena on April 1, 2011.

Other Fun Events

AMSOIL Arena is a very flexible venue. It has hosted many different kinds of events. Famous comedians like Jeff Dunham and Jim Gaffigan have performed here. The amazing Cirque du Soleil has also put on shows. Each April, the local AAD Shrine holds its annual circus fundraiser at the arena.

Many concerts take place here too. The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra held the first non-sporting event, "Cirque de la Symphonie on Ice," on December 31, 2010. This was just one day after the arena officially opened! The arena can also be set up for large dinners and meetings. As mentioned, President Donald Trump held a rally here in 2018, which set an attendance record.

Some of the many famous artists who have performed concerts at AMSOIL Arena include:

• Elton John
• Michael Bublé
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• Jason Aldean
• Justin Moore
• TobyMac
• Casting Crowns
• Ludacris
• Little Big Town
• Juicy J
• Chris Young
• James Taylor
• Kiss
• The Beach Boys
• The Temptations
• Keith Urban
• Bryan Adams
• Thomas Rhett
• Brantley Gilbert
• Chris Stapleton
• Styx
• REO Speedwagon
• Alabama
• Old Dominion
• Dierks Bentley
• Luke Combs
• Kelsea Ballerini

Awards and Recognition

AMSOIL Arena has received some great 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 second best, just behind Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which is home to the Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles.

Stadium Journey also named AMSOIL Arena the best college hockey arena in both 2014 and 2015.

The Wall Street Journal even included AMSOIL Arena on its list of 10 "Golden Zamboni" winners. This award highlights arenas that are unique among college hockey venues across the country.