The North Carolina Ice Hockey Booster Club recently announced plans to build a new arena for the UNC Club Ice Hockey team, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season.
The arena, designed by Gurlitz Architectural, will have a capacity of approximately 3,000 seats and will include amenities such as a restaurant, a jumbotron and private locker rooms for players.
Unlike other club sports, the majority of funds for the hockey team are provided by player dues and money secured by their booster club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on financially supporting the team for matches and competitions.
The arena itself is also set to be funded by the booster club. Colin Wahl, general manager of UNC Club Ice Hockey, said the group hopes to raise approximately $25 to $30 million in order to secure the arena’s construction in Chapel Hill's Carraway Village.
Wahl said that the arena would be around an eight-minute bus ride away from central campus, saying that he expected more students to come out to games.
UNC Club Ice Hockey president Benjamin Edwards said that it has been harder for the club team to find ideal game and practice times, especially with ice hockey growing as a sport in North Carolina.
“It's been getting more crowded in the arena,” Edwards said. “We felt for us to have games and practice times that we desire, it would be better for us to have our own rink and facility.”
The team currently plays their games at the Orange County Sportsplex in Hillsborough, a recreation center that hosts classes, clinics and camps. The location also contains an ice rink shared by various youth programs and colleges.
Wahl said that while the team previously played games during the afternoon or early evening, their games at the Sportsplex this season have usually started at 10:15 p.m.
