The Ice Sheet at Ogden facts for kids
| Address | 4390 Harrison Blvd. Ogden, Utah United States |
|---|---|
| Location | Weber State University |
| Coordinates | 41°11′00″N 111°56′47″W / 41.18333°N 111.94639°W |
| Public transit | Add→ 603X at Dee Events Center station |
| Owner | Weber County, Utah |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Surface | Ice |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 17, 1992 |
| Built | 1992–1994 |
| Opened | April 2, 1994 |
| Renovated | 1999 (concrete floor) |
| Construction cost | US$6,200,000 (equivalent to $12,930,000 in 2022) |
| Tenants | |
| XIX Olympic Winter Games (February 2002) Ogden Mustangs (WSHL/USPHL) (2011–present) Weber State University men's ice hockey |
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| Website | |
| The Ice Sheet at Ogden | |
The Ice Sheet at Ogden is also known as the Weber County Ice Sheet. It is an ice rink located in Ogden, Utah. This city is about 35 miles (56 km) north of Salt Lake City. The Ice Sheet is on the campus of Weber State University.
It first opened in 1994. It was built as a place for people to practice sports like curling, ice hockey, and figure skating. The Ice Sheet was a special place during the 2002 Winter Olympics. It hosted all the curling events. It is expected to host curling again for the 2034 Winter Olympics. This venue is also home to the Ogden Mustangs. They are a junior ice hockey team. Weber State University's men's hockey team also plays here.
The Ice Sheet is owned by Weber County. It has hosted many important curling events. These events are approved by the World Curling Federation. The Ice Sheet offers many activities for the community. These include local competitions and public skating. You can also take lessons for hockey, curling, figure skating, and speed skating. The building has a pro shop, meeting rooms, and locker rooms. There is also an outdoor terrace for gatherings.
The Ice Sheet's Story
After Utah decided to try for the Olympics in 1989, Ogden City wanted an Olympic-sized ice rink. They sent a plan to the Utah Sports Authority. On September 10, 1990, a spot near the Dee Events Center in Ogden was chosen. This was picked over other places in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. The land for the rink would be rented from Weber State University for 50 years. The cost was just $1.
Construction began on December 17, 1992. The building was planned to cost $5.9 million. Money came from the State of Utah and Weber County. Some money also came from private donations.
The Ice Sheet officially opened on April 2–3, 1994. This grand opening lasted two days. Famous skaters like Scott Hamilton performed. U.S. Champions Todd Sands and Jennifer Moreno also skated. By the time it was finished, the cost had risen to $6.2 million. It could hold 2,000 people watching events. The building was about 52,500 square feet (4,877 m2) in size.
It was first meant for practice and early competitions for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Later, it was decided that the Ice Sheet would host the actual curling events. So, on May 2, 1999, the rink closed for a big change. They replaced the old sand-based floor with a new concrete one. The sand floor caused bumps in the ice. The new concrete floor was finished in July 1999. The Ice Sheet reopened for everyone to use just a few weeks later.
Olympic Moments
The Ice Sheet at Ogden was chosen to host curling events for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Curling had only been a full Olympic sport since the 1998 Winter Olympics. The venue could hold about 2,000 fans. A lot of tickets were sold, with 96.7% of seats filled. In total, 40,572 people watched the curling events at the Ice Sheet.
The Ice Sheet is set to host curling events again. This will happen during the 2034 Winter Olympics.
