Duluth Entertainment Convention Center facts for kids

The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (often called the DECC) is a large building complex in Duluth, Minnesota. It has many different spaces for events. You can find it right on the waterfront, close to Duluth's famous Aerial Lift Bridge.

For many years, the DECC was the home of the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog hockey teams. Both the men's and women's teams played here from 1966 until 2010.

The DECC Arena

The main part of the DECC is the Arena. It was first called the Duluth Arena Auditorium. Building it cost about $6.5 million.

Hockey and More

The Arena has a large hockey rink that is 190 feet long and 85 feet wide. There are 5,333 seats for fans to watch games. It also has six locker rooms for teams. The Bulldog hockey teams got new, updated locker rooms that cost $2 million.

When there isn't a hockey game, the Arena can change. It can host concerts, big dinners, conventions, and various shows.

Big Hockey Events

The DECC Arena has hosted some very important hockey tournaments. It was the site of the NCAA I men's hockey championships in 1968 and 1981. It also hosted the Women's NCAA Division I Frozen Four in 2003 and 2008. The Frozen Four is like the final championship tournament for college hockey.

Symphony Hall

Next to the Arena is a large lobby where you buy tickets. This lobby connects the Arena to Symphony Hall. Symphony Hall can seat 2,400 people. It is a place for concerts, symphonies, plays, and even operas. Many high school and college graduation ceremonies also happen here.

Pioneer Hall and Curling

Pioneer Hall was added to the DECC complex in 1976. It also has a hockey rink, but it's smaller than the main Arena. It has bleacher seating that can fold out.

Curling Capital

Pioneer Hall is also the home of the Duluth Curling Club. Curling is a sport where players slide stones on ice towards a target area. Pioneer Hall has eight curling rinks, but it can be set up for up to 13 rinks for big events. It is the largest curling venue in the United States.

The Duluth Curling Club is the second largest curling club in the country. Pioneer Hall has hosted two World Championships for curling. It has also held the US Olympic Trials and many other national curling events.

The Convention Center

In the mid-1990s, a large convention center was added to the DECC. This expansion cost about $30 million. The convention center is used for many different kinds of events. These include social gatherings, business meetings, and entertainment shows.

Meeting Spaces

The convention center has a huge space called the Lake Superior Ballroom. It is about 26,000 sq ft (2,400 m²) big. There is also the Harborside Ballroom, which is 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m²). On top of that, there are 25 different meeting rooms. These spaces can be used for all sorts of events.

AMSOIL Arena: The New Home

In 2008, Minnesota approved $38 million for a big expansion project at the DECC. This project included building a brand new, multi-purpose arena. This new arena would become the home for the UMD men's and women's ice hockey teams.

More Seats, More Events

The new arena has more seating capacity than the old DECC Arena. It can seat 6,600 people for ice hockey games. For concerts, it can hold up to 8,500 people. The expansion also added a new parking ramp. It created more space for conventions and concerts. The DECC director, Dan Russell, said this would help bring more events to the complex.

Construction on the new arena started in September 2008. The AMSOIL Arena officially opened on December 30, 2010. The first game played there was a UMD men's hockey game against the University of North Dakota.