Reno’s hockey landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution. What began as a modest nonprofit arena in the south of the city has quickly become a hub of activity, with teams booked from dawn until midnight seven days a week. The organization, founded by Cam Sorenson, Joel Grace and Chris O’Neal, now fields roughly 600 youngsters under the direction of Mickey Lang, who estimates the program’s growth has been “massive” since the Jennifer M. O’Neal Community Ice Arena opened in 2021.
Community-Driven Expansion
Encouraged by that momentum, the Grand Sierra Resort, owned by Alex Meruelo, is planning a year-round, full-service community ice center adjacent to a 10,000-seat arena slated for completion by the summer of 2027. The venture is part of a billion-dollar expansion that could finally restore professional hockey to Reno, a city that has waited nearly three decades for a top-level team.
The expansion is not limited to venue construction. Reno Ice has already secured county approval to add a second sheet of ice next to its existing facility, a move that will alleviate scheduling pressures and allow more leagues to flourish. Meruelo, whose Meruelo Group controls the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL, has spoken openly about relocating that franchise to Reno, while the broader network of minor-league affiliates — including the Henderson Silver Knights and Tahoe Knight Monsters — provides a ready pipeline of talent.
Beyond the rink, the initiative reflects a regional strategy that ties together universities, local government and private investors. Partnerships with the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and firms such as Hunden Partners underscore a coordinated push to position Reno as an emerging hockey destination, linking youth programs with collegiate and professional pathways.