Hockey Day Minnesota 2023

After completing the award-winning renovation of White Bear Lake Sports Center, JLG Architects circled back to town, teaming up to sponsor January’s Hockey Day Minnesota 2023. JLG’s Tom Betti, AIA NCARB, worked closely with Hockey Day Minnesota’s crew and committee to design the 3,600-seat outdoor rink and event venue, supporting thousands of hockey fans and players for fun and fundraising. Working within the boundaries of the site’s existing soccer fields, Betti’s vision carved out a unique destination for the 17th anniversary of this four-day traveling event, sponsored by the Minnesota Wild and Bally Sports North. Guests to the event enjoyed a full schedule of outdoor college and high school hockey games, a Wounded Warriors event, live concerts, hospitality, and a variety of winter-inspired activities. JLG also hosted VIP guests in one of the event’s Top-Level Suites located on the site’s Town Square, offering a top deck veranda, heated indoor space with High-Def TV, and an outdoor social and yard game area. The event’s design process began one year prior, with JLG working alongside 12 major suppliers and contractors to install a competition ice rink in just one week. With creativity, passion, and planning, hockey enthusiasts were presented with an extraordinary outdoor experience, helping give back to the White Bear Lake community and its youth hockey programs.