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ICYMI: News of Multi-Purpose Arena for UST Generates National Buzz

Last week, the University of St. Thomas revealed its plans for a new multi-purpose arena designed by Ryan Companies and Crawford Architects.

The multi-purpose arena and practice facilities will serve as the new home for the school’s men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. The new arena complex will play a pivotal role in St. Thomas’ ongoing transition to NCAA Division I athletics while providing competition and training facilities for men’s and women’s athletics plus commencement ceremonies, academic convocations, conferences, career fairs, and other events for the university and broader community.

The University also announced it received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Fla. for the arena. The donation is the single largest monetary gift ever given to a Minnesota university. St Thomas made history as the first Division III institution in the modern NCAA to transition directly to Division I.

Read more about the UST Multi-Purpose Arena in the News:

Forbes:

The University of St. Thomas, a private, Catholic university located in St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, has announced that it has received the largest gift in its more than 135-year history – a $75 million donation from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Florida. Continue reading on Forbes.

Yahoo Finance:

The University of St. Thomas announced a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Florida, for a multiuse, on-campus arena in St. Paul for its Division I men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. Continue reading on Yahoo.

MPRNews:

The University of St. Thomas has unveiled plans for a new basketball and hockey arena to be built on its St. Paul campus — boosted by a $75 million donation the school said is “the single largest monetary gift ever given to a Minnesota university.” Continue reading on NPRNEWS.

University of St. Thomas Newsroom:

The Lee and Penny Anderson Arena will be the new home for Tommies hockey and basketball, further elevating the university as a leading Division I national Catholic university.The single largest monetary gift ever given to a Minnesota university will bring hockey onto campus for the first time at the University of St. Thomas – and the state’s college basketball fans will have a new venue to visit as well. Continue reading on UST News

The Star Tribune:

Rico Blasi knew that the University of St. Thomas’ 2020 move to NCAA Division I athletics would require the St. Paul private school to upgrade its facilities. The men’s hockey coach just didn’t think it would happen so fast. Thanks to a record $75 million gift — believed to be the largest to any university in Minnesota — construction of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena could begin in 2024, with the doors open as soon as 2025. Continue reading on The Star Tribune

Kansas City Business Journal:

The University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota has selected Kansas City-based Crawford Architects LLC to join the design-build team for its $175 million Lee and Penny Anderson Arena multipurpose sports project. Continue reading on KCBJ

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal:

The University of St. Thomas, a private, Catholic university located in St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, has announced that it has received the largest gift in its more than 135-year history – a $75 million donation from Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Florida. Continue reading on Minneapolis/ St.Paul Business Journal

College Hockey News:

St. Thomas announced today its plans to construct a $175 million, on-campus multi-use arena for its hockey and basketball programs. The project has a target opening of fall 2025. Continue reading on College Hockey News

PanStadia:

Ryan Companies US has been selected as the design-builder, in partnership with Crawford Architects, for the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Designs are still being finalised for the 253,000ft2 arena in St. Paul and Minneapolis, which will support the university’s hockey and basketball programmes. Continue reading on PanStadia

Twin Cities Business:

An unprecedented $75 million gift from billionaire philanthropists Lee and Penny Anderson will enable the University of St. Thomas to build an on-campus athletic arena that will become home to the Tommie hockey and basketball teams. It’s the culmination of St. Thomas’s 2021 move from Division III to Division I athletics. Continue reading on Twin Cities Business

MSN:

The University of St. Thomas announced a $75 million gift that will help the school build a hockey and basketball arena on campus.Why it matters: The $175 million project will boost UST’s facilities now that it’s a Division I sports program and will attract bigger crowds. Continue reading on MSN

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Crawford Media CONTACT:

Crawford Architects
1801 McGee Street Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64108
Dakota Miller Zinn
Dmillerzinn@crawford-usa.com