The Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud has just completed a $16.8 million renovation that modernizes its ice‑making infrastructure and expands its spectator facilities.
State bonding dollars covered $10 million of the cost, while a local food and beverage tax contributed the remaining $6.8 million, allowing the project to proceed without raising property taxes.
The upgrade introduces a state‑of‑the‑art ammonia‑based refrigeration system that is projected to cut utility expenses by more than $140,000 annually and reduce operating costs by roughly $40,000 each year.
A New Era for Local Hockey
The revamped complex now houses six new locker rooms, including 30 stalls for the St. Cloud Crush girls and Cathedral teams and 34 stalls for the Crush boys, providing ample space for growing rosters.
Beyond the locker rooms, a 13,000‑plus square‑foot addition on the east side of Ritsche Arena accommodates a 4,000‑square‑foot dryland training area, a project that benefited from more than $100,000 raised by the St. Cloud Youth Hockey Association during 2018 Hockey Day in Minnesota.
Long‑time facility manager Tim Kuhl celebrated his 30‑year anniversary at the MAC during the reopening ceremony, underscoring the personal connections that bind the community to the arena.
The renovated venue will be used by the St. Cloud Crush, the St. Cloud Cathedral boys hockey team, the College of St. Benedict, and the St. Cloud Norsemen, while also serving youth programs that aim to attract new players and broaden participation in the sport.
Organizers hope the improved facilities and lower operating costs will make hockey more accessible, fostering the next generation of athletes and strengthening the local sports culture.