Over 30 years after the innovative new Mariucci Arena (now 3M at Mariucci) first graced the campus of the University of Minnesota, Gopher fans and players are still captivated by its 10,000-seat energy and breathtaking beauty.
After a 2012 overhaul, upgrades are once again underway at Mariucci, bringing this elite program to the next level of competition. JLG Architects is currently working with the University of Minnesota to lower and reduce their Olympic-size (100’x200’) ice sheet, making way for additional premium seating at event level.
Debuting in the 2023-24 season, the capacity of 3M Arena at Mariucci is expected to increase by 200-300 seats, with Athletics renumbering each row and some of the seats in the Arena accordingly. Gopher Athletics anticipates that the view season-ticket holders will have in 2023-24 will be similar – if not the same – to the view from the prior season. Season-ticket holders who had aisle seats last season will also have aisle seats on their renewal application for the 2023-24 season.
Gopher Athletics has created a website that details every change to each section in 3M Arena at Mariucci: – University of Minnesota Athletics (gophersports.com)
The project – by JLG Architects and M.A. Mortenson – includes upgrading the ice refrigeration equipment at both 3M Arena at Mariucci and the adjacent Ridder Arena. These upgrades are slated to include energy-efficient refrigeration, improved safety features for fans, and a new ice plant location within the building. When the work is complete, it will allow the Ridder ice plant room to be gutted and converted for other building use. The ice plant replacement will remove ozone-depleting R-22 refrigerant and utilize new cooling technology with nearly zero global warming potential.
Seating arrangements and capacity will not be affected at Ridder Arena. Both projects began at the end of the men’s hockey season and are scheduled to be completed in fall 2023.