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The Ice Sheet at Ogden facts for kids

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The Ice Sheet at Ogden
Building exterior
The Ice Sheet exterior
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 / 41.18333; -111.94639
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 (1994-04-02)
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
Website
The Ice Sheet at Ogden

The Ice Sheet at Ogden, also called the Weber County Ice Sheet, is a fantastic place for ice sports! It is located in Ogden, Utah, on the campus of Weber State University. This cool facility opened in 1994. It was first built as a training center for sports like curling, ice hockey, and figure skating.

The Ice Sheet became famous when it hosted curling events during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Today, it is home to the Ogden Mustangs, a junior ice hockey team. It also hosts the Weber State University men's hockey team. This facility is owned by Weber County. It has hosted many important curling events.

What You Can Do at The Ice Sheet

The Ice Sheet offers lots of fun activities for everyone. You can enjoy public skating sessions with your friends and family. They also have lesson programs if you want to learn a new ice sport.

Sports and Activities

You can try out different sports like hockey, curling, figure skating, and even speed skating. The Ice Sheet also puts on exciting ice shows. These shows feature talented skaters.

Facilities and Shops

Inside the building, you will find a pro shop. Here you can buy gear for your favorite ice sports. There are also conference rooms for meetings and comfortable locker rooms. An outdoor terrace is available for special events.

How The Ice Sheet Was Built

The idea for the Ice Sheet started in 1989. Utah residents voted to support the Olympic Games. Ogden City then suggested building an Olympic-sized ice rink. This rink would be used for practice.

Choosing the Location

On September 10, 1990, a special group chose a spot for the ice sheet. It was near the Dee Events Center in Ogden. This location was picked over other places in Salt Lake City and Provo. The land for the building was rented from Weber State University for 50 years. The cost was just $1!

Construction and Opening

Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on December 17, 1992. The facility was planned to cost $5.9 million. Money came from the State of Utah, Weber County, and private donations.

The Ice Sheet officially opened on April 2–3, 1994. This grand opening was a big event. It featured performances by famous skaters like Scott Hamilton. The final cost of the building was $6.2 million. It had seats for 2,000 people. The building was about 52,500 square feet in size.

Important Upgrades

The Ice Sheet was first meant for practice during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Later, it was decided it would host curling events. To make the ice better for curling, the floor was changed. In May 1999, the Ice Sheet closed to replace its sand-based floor. The old floor caused uneven ice. A new concrete floor was installed. This new floor was finished in July 1999. The Ice Sheet reopened to the public just a few weeks later.

Hosting the Winter Olympics

2002 Olympic curling
2002 Olympic curling competitions inside the Ice Sheet

The Ice Sheet at Ogden played a big role in the 2002 Winter Olympics. It hosted the curling events. Curling was a newer sport in the Olympics, first appearing in 1998.

Curling at the Olympics

The venue could hold about 2,000 spectators. Many people came to watch the curling matches. A total of 40,572 spectators attended the events. This shows how popular the curling competitions were!

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