JLG Architects Named Official Architect of Hockey Day Minnesota 2024
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – November 1, 2023 – For the second consecutive year, JLG Architects has been named the Official Architect of Hockey Day Minnesota. The 2024 outdoor hockey celebration is scheduled for January 25-27 in Warroad, MN – Hockeytown USA®.
With three months remaining, outdoor site planning is moving along at the Warroad High School athletic complex and football field along Elk Street. JLG’s Tom Betti is leading the design of the event’s outdoor rinks and hockey village, working in tandem with the 2024 Hockey Day Minnesota committee and dozens of suppliers, contractors, and crew members.
JLG has publicly released the first sneak peek of the 2024 Hockey Day Minnesota site in renderings and flythroughs that tour the outdoor rink layout, event tents, and overall ‘hockey village.’ The hockey village is designed to entertain and provide amenities, supported by the sponsorships of several local partners. “We want visitors to enjoy the wintery setting to its fullest; outside of hockey, we’re focused on fun, with groupings of igloos, a skate path, and a snow hill,” said JLG’s Mitchell Borgen. “There will also be plenty of space to warm up around the fire or inside a massive entertainment tent with bands, food, beverages, and merchandise.” Additionally, the village will feature two large screens covering all of Hockey Day’s events, with access to an array of outdoor food trucks, coffee/hot cocoa huts, and the village beer garden.
“It is a tremendous honor to design Warroad’s Hockey Day rink and village. This community lives and breathes hockey, and alongside the Hockey Day Minnesota team, they have really come together to help make a complex process fun and exciting. This time, it’s not just about creating the ultimate outdoor hockey experience, it’s about sharing the heart and soul of the Warroad community – the camaraderie and culture, the Native American heritage, and the extraordinary legends that have built Hockeytown USA.”
Tom Betti, AIA NCARB – JLG Architects
Betti brings over 35 years of regional and national expertise in sports and community-based projects ranging from complex collegiate and NHL hockey facilities to parks and recreation, civic, healthcare, and education design. A Registered Architect in 13 states, his award-winning projects span the country, integrating specialized knowledge in ice planning studies, ground-up design, adaptive reuse, and renovation of multi-sheet arenas and multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities.
JLG Architects is an award-winning, Midwest-based firm recognized in 2022 and 2023 as a Global 100 Best Ice Hockey Arena Architects – Upper Midwest.
JLG is responsible for the award-winning design of Minnesota’s White Bear Lake Sports Center, in addition to Elk River Community Facility & Ice Arena, Proctor Ice Arena, and Shakopee Ice Arena. JLG recently led the University of Minnesota’s NHL ice resizing at Mariucci Arena, with scheduled upgrades to mechanicals at Ridder Arena next summer. JLG’s work can be found throughout the Midwest and cross-country, completing Sacred Heart University’s Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, CT, Colorado College’s Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, CO; Augustana University’s Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, SD; Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena in Irvine, CA, and 60 more arenas spanning the USA.
Hockey Day Minnesota 2024
Hockey Day Minnesota 2024 marks the annual traveling event’s 18th year, hosted by Minnesota Wild and Bally Sports North.
Over three days, Hockey Day Minnesota crew and volunteers will host a full schedule of outdoor college and high school hockey games, including charitable events, live concerts, hospitality, and unique activities – anticipating the arrival of approximately 15,000 visitors, players, and hockey enthusiasts.
The Warroad Memorial Arena Association charity is a fiscal sponsor and partner with Hockey Day Minnesota 2024. The event’s net proceeds will benefit a newly created Warroad Hockey Endowment Fund to help strengthen local hockey programs and operations into the future.
Hockey day Minnesota 2024 is actively fundraising to support the event, offering four levels of sponsorship opportunities, including branding in VIP hospitality suites, gameday mentions, VIP gift baskets, dasher boards, and programs.
Warroad’s local organizing committee is currently working with Hockey Day’s committee to coordinate public and student volunteers, providing opportunities to earn community service for area scholarships.
Warroad: Hockeytown USA®
In 1957, noting five Warroad players on the National team, Warroad’s Mayor, Morrie Taylor dubbed the city, “Hockeytown USA.” Warroad has been synonymous with breeding hockey success, often attributed to its community’s free year-round skating access. Visitors to Warroad in January will also find the Riverbend Skate Path, a 2.5-mile ice path that connects seven rinks, maintained throughout the winter by community members and equipment donations from local businesses like Polaris Industries, Ironhide, and Bobcat.
