New NMU Arena Given Go-Ahead

The Northern Michigan University Board of Control has approved a plan calling for the construction of a new campus event center, slated to go up by mid-1999. Construction will begin on the $9.5 million project next spring.

Of the new arena, Mike Roy, vice president for finance and administration, said, “It will offer individual seating for approximately 4,000 for hockey games and up to 5,000 for other events, such as concerts and student activities.”

The hockey surface will be a sheet of Olympic-size ice which can be covered with temporary flooring for other events.

NMU athletic director and hockey head coach Rick Comley said the Events Center will help the university compete with CCHA rivals. The Wildcats make their return to CCHA competition this year after several seasons in the WCHA.