Lee and Penny Anderson Arena

In 2020, St. Thomas received approval to move its athletics programs directly from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I{{cite web |last1=Christensen |first1=Joe |last2=Ryan |first2=Megan |title=St. Thomas gets approval from NCAA to go Division I |url=https://www.startribune.com/st-thomas-gets-approval-from-ncaa-to-go-division-i/571780492/ |website=Star Tribune |access-date=17 January 2023}} as a result of being removed from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.{{cite web |last1=Medcalf |first1=Myron |title=St. Thomas wins too much, kicked out of MIAC |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/26801838/st-thomas-wins-too-much-kicked-miac |website=ESPN.com |access-date=17 January 2023 |language=en |date=22 May 2019}} At the time, it was noted that athletics facilities would need to be assessed, due to Division I's elevated requirements. Continued use of existing facilities, leasing other facilities, or building new facilities were all listed as options.{{cite web |last1=Scoggins |first1=Chip |last2=Christensen |first2=Joe |title=St. Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC |url=https://www.startribune.com/university-of-st-thomas-wants-to-go-division-i-gets-invitation-to-summit-league/562174952/ |website=Star Tribune |access-date=17 January 2023}} Since 2003, St. Thomas' men's and women's hockey teams have played at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights. With a capacity of just 1,000, it is the third-smallest arena in Division I men's hockey.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Randy |title=New opportunities, challenges for St. Thomas hockey in Division I |url=https://www.startribune.com/new-opportunities-challenges-for-st-thomas-hockey-in-division-i/571890302/ |website=Star Tribune |access-date=17 January 2023}}

In February 2022, St. Thomas offered $61.4 million to purchase nearby Town & Country Club, with the intent to build athletic facilities on the site.{{cite web |last1=Melo |first1=Frederick |title=Seeking hockey arena, St. Thomas makes $61.4 million unsolicited bid for Town & Country golf course |url=https://www.twincities.com/2022/02/21/seeking-hockey-arena-st-thomas-makes-61-4-million-unsolicited-bid-for-town-country-golf-course/ |website=TwinCities.com |publisher=Pioneer Press |access-date=17 January 2023 |date=22 February 2022}} The country club's board of directors voted to reject the offer.{{cite web |last1=Keefer |first1=Winter |title=Town & Country Club Rejects Golf Course Bid from St. Thomas |url=https://tcbmag.com/town-country-club-rejects-golf-course-bid-from-st-thomas/ |website=Twin Cities Business |access-date=17 January 2023 |date=23 February 2022}}

In June 2022, it was reported that the university planned to build sports facilities, including a new hockey arena, at the former Ford Motor Company Twin Cities Assembly Plant redevelopment site known as Highland Bridge.{{cite web |last1=Melo |first1=Frederick |title=University of St. Thomas eyes Highland Bridge for Division I hockey, baseball, softball venues |url=https://www.twincities.com/2022/06/04/university-of-st-thomas-eyes-highland-bridge-for-division-i-hockey-baseball-softball-venues/ |website=TwinCities.com |publisher=Pioneer Press |access-date=17 January 2023 |date=5 June 2022}} In July 2022, St. Thomas announced it no longer planned to build a hockey arena at the Highland Bridge site and would focus on on-campus locations.{{cite web |last1=Melo |first1=Frederick |title=St. Thomas pulls Division I hockey stadium plan out of Highland Bridge, but baseball, softball remain |url=https://www.twincities.com/2022/07/07/st-thomas-pulls-division-i-hockey-stadium-plan-out-of-highland-bridge-but-baseball-softball-remain/ |website=TwinCities.com |publisher=Pioneer Press |access-date=17 January 2023 |date=7 July 2022}}

On January 17, 2023, St. Thomas announced that it had received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson to construct a multiuse on-campus arena in St. Paul. With a total project cost estimated to be $175 million, the arena would be home to St. Thomas' basketball and hockey teams. The arena would also host commencement, speakers, career fairs, and other events for the broader community, such as concerts. Three buildings will need to be demolished to make room for the arena, including Cretin Hall, a dormitory designed by Cass Gilbert and built in 1894.{{cite web |last1=Navratil |first1=Liz |title=University of St. Thomas announces record-setting donation for new sports arena |url=https://www.startribune.com/university-of-st-thomas-announces-record-setting-donation-for-new-sports-facilities/600244109/ |website=Star Tribune |access-date=17 January 2023}}

In addition to the removal of three buildings, several surface lots will be removed, resulting in the net loss of over 250 parking spaces. Because of this, the university is exploring increased public transportation options, scheduling high-attendance events on weekends, and parking restrictions during events.{{cite web |last1=Heilman |first1=Dan |title=St. Thomas arena project taking shape in St. Paul {{!}} Finance & Commerce |url=https://finance-commerce.com/2023/07/st-thomas-arena-project-taking-shape-in-st-paul/ |publisher=Finance & Commerce |access-date=13 July 2023 |date=12 July 2023}}

In November 2023, residents living in the nearby neighborhood filed a petition to the Minnesota Court of Appeals to block construction of the project, releasing a statement which called the project's submitted environmental assessment misleading. The group's main concerns were lack of parking accommodations for the many expected events throughout the year. Combined with construction of the adjacent Schoenecker Center (which opened in the Spring of 2024) on the university's south campus, construction of the arena is set to result in a net loss of approximately 390 parking stalls.{{cite web |last1=Melo |first1=Frederick |title=Opponents petition courts for environmental review of proposed St. Thomas arena in St. Paul |url=https://www.twincities.com/2023/11/02/opponents-petition-courts-for-environmental-review-of-proposed-st-thomas-arena-in-st-paul/ |website=TwinCities.com |publisher=St. Paul Pioneer Press |access-date=5 December 2023 |date=2 November 2023}}

The arena's design is in a Gothic architectural style featuring Kasota limestone, similar to many other buildings on campus.{{cite web |title=Ryan Companies to build Lee and Penny Anderson Arena |url=https://sportsvenuebusiness.com/2023/01/24/ryan-companies-to-build-lee-and-penny-anderson-arena/ |website=Sports Venue Business (SVB) |access-date=27 January 2023 |date=24 January 2023}}

It will be designed such that quick conversions can be made between hockey, basketball and other events. The complex will also house basketball and hockey practice facilities, including a second ice sheet.{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Jess |title='It's a game-changer': Record $75 million gift makes on-campus St. Thomas hockey, hoops facility a reality |url=https://www.therinklive.com/mens-college/ccha/record-75-million-gift-makes-on-campus-st-thomas-hockey-hoops-facility-a-reality |website=The Rink Live |access-date=27 January 2023 |language=en |date=17 January 2023}}

LEED Silver certification will be sought, a sustainability benchmark for green building certification. The arena is pursuing utilizing both geothermal energy and groundwater to be the first sustainable ice rink in the US and one of the most efficient ice rinks in the world.{{cite news |last1=Orr |first1=Madelyn |last2=Mathiowetz |first2=Aubrey |title=Lee and Penny Anderson Arena opens possibility of the most sustainable ice rink in the nation |url=https://www.tommiemedia.com/lee-and-penny-anderson-arena-opens-possibility-of-the-most-sustainable-ice-rink-in-the-nation/ |access-date=12 May 2023 |publisher=TommieMedia |date=11 May 2023}}

Advocates believed the environmental analysis for the arena was inadequate due to failing to fully assess greenhouse gases generated by the arena and increased traffic. Construction on the arena was halted after the Advocates for Responsible Development appealed the arena’s site plans to the St. Paul City Planning Commission, but the City ruled in favor of St. Thomas, and construction resumed. The Minnesota Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on the lawsuit on April 11, 2024.{{cite news |title=University of St. Thomas' Lee and Penny Anderson Arena under scrutiny for possible environmental impacts |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/university-of-st-thomas-lee-and-penny-anderson-arena-environmental-lawsuit/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=WCCO |date=11 April 2024}} The Court ruled that the first Environmental Assessment Worksheet was invalid, and that St. Thomas must complete a new one, a decision that St. Thomas has since appealed and is awaiting further debate.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies women's basketball navbox}}

{{St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies men's basketball navbox}}

{{St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies men's ice hockey navbox}}

{{St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies women's ice hockey navbox}}

{{Summit League basketball venue navbox}}

{{Central Collegiate Hockey Association}}

{{National Collegiate Hockey Conference}}

{{Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee and Penny Anderson Arena}}

Category:College ice hockey venues in the United States

Category:Indoor arenas under construction in the United States

Category:Ice hockey venues in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Category:College basketball venues in Minnesota

Category:St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies men's basketball

Category:St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies men's ice hockey

Category:St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies women's ice hockey

Category:College ice hockey venues in Minnesota