A Deal to Keep the Carlson Center Alive
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly approved a new agreement that will keep the Carlson Center serving as the home ice rink for the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) hockey team. Under the terms of the deal, the borough will lease the arena’s locker rooms for just $1, a symbolic gesture intended to ease the financial burden on the university.
The arrangement comes at a time when the Carlson Center has been operating at a $700,000 deficit for the 2025 fiscal year. Previously, UAF hockey contributed $5,000 per game to the borough, but the latest contract leaves the per‑game fees still under discussion, reflecting a shift toward more creative cost‑sharing.
The ordinance passed with an 8‑1 vote, a tally that underscored broad support among assembly members. Assembly Member Kristan Kelly voiced her backing, urging officials to explore innovative ways to relieve the center’s mounting expenses, while Assembly Member Liz Reeves stood alone in opposition, citing lingering financial concerns.
UAF Athletics Director Brock Anundson emphasized that UAF hockey serves as the Carlson Center’s anchor tenant, a relationship that the university hopes will remain mutually beneficial. He noted that the partnership not only sustains the rink but also supports broader athletic and community programs tied to the facility.
The agreement also follows a near‑miss last year, when a committee recommendation to shutter the center fell short in a 5‑4 vote. By extending the lease, the borough aims to avoid a repeat of that debate and to secure the venue’s future while negotiations on fee structures continue.