Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith has seen a lot of new and upgraded facilities during his time running the show on the banks of the Olentangy. Ohio Stadium has undergone a renovation, the lacrosse program got its own facility, the multi-use Covelli Center was opened, and both player facilities for football and basketball got a facelift.
But the Ohio State Department of Athletics isn’t done putting on the lipstick and rouge. According to several reports, the program is now looking towards a new ice hockey facility for both the men’s and women’s programs.
According to the agenda for its meeting Thursday, the Ohio State Board of Trustees will propose a new ice rink off Fred Taylor Drive close to the Covelli Center. If approved, construction would begin in June 2024 with an opening slated for April 2026.
“We appreciate the Board of Trustees considering this proposal allowing us to hire an architect to plan this much-needed facility,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. “We are looking forward to hiring a firm to help define program components and to design a state-of-the-art complex that will serve our student-athletes and fans.”
Ohio State is proposing an ice rink for its men’s and women’s hockey teams. Construction would begin next year if approved by the board of trustees: https://t.co/bBaGRMRtjY
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) February 13, 2023
Currently, the OSU men play their home games in the cavernous Schottenstein Center and have done so since it opened in 1999. The women do their work in the OSU Ice Rink.
This news comes in the midst of what seems to be a continuing trend with the athletic department of getting some of those Olympic sports their own places to call home.
You’ll get no argument from us.
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