Munn Ice Arena

Munn Arena has long been a showcase for collegiate hockey and a second home to the many players who have donned the Green and White throughout the years.

The Michigan State hockey facility continues to stay a step ahead of the field when it comes to providing Spartan players with the most state-of- the-art facilities in existence.

A newly remodeled locker room, training room, weight room, video room and players' lounge were in place for the 1993-94 season as the Spartan staff continued to make facilities a No. 1 priority at MSU.

A perennial favorite of Michigan State fans, Munn has played host to 168 consecutive regular-season sellouts, further enhancing the home ice advantage Spartan hockey players have become accustomed to.

When a student-athlete becomes an MSU hockey player, he assumes a Commitment To Excellence. That same commitment by the staff has made Munn Arena everything a player is looking for...and more!

Built in 1974 strictly for hockey, the Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn Ice Arena is recognized as one of the finest collegiate hockey facilities in the country. This year, the arena will be showcased when it hosts the 1996 NCAA Ice Hockey West Regional, March 23-24.

Coach Ron Mason believes Munn is a vital aid in attracting talent to Michigan State."When we show our prospects that we have a nice place to play, they have more reason to come here," Mason said. "It's fairly new and, being on campus, has a good location."

When Munn Arena, named in honor of the late Spartan football coach and athletic director, Biggie Munn, who died in 1975, was built, it was a smashing attendance success. With the icers playing exciting and winning hock- ey, Munn Ice Arena drew 118,875 during its first year of operation in 1974-75 and 157,567 in 1975-76, a mark that still stands for total home attendance in one season.

The Spartans set several attendance records during the 1986-87 season, including new marks for average game attendance of 6,722 and the top single-game crowd of 6,902 s. Bowling Green State. During 1987-88, MSU sold out all 'out one of its home contests, with the lone non-capacity crowd ending a phenomenal string of 56 consecutive home sellouts. Seven years ago, State had a "full house" on all 23 of its home dates, and has for every regular-season game since, extending its capacity crowd streak to 168 contests.

Further enhanced by the team's performance on the ice, Munn Ice Arena, designed by Daverman Associates of Grand Rapids, is an excellent place to watch a hockey game.

Accessible from entrances on both ends, the upper spectator viewing area includes excellent sight lines for all seating, ancillary public concourse facilities and a handi- capped platform located atop the east stands. The lower level contains service areas for building maintenance, offices and quarters for varsity, intramural and vis'.ting teams. A training room and weight room to serve Michigan State athletic programs are also present, along with a Varsity Alumni Clubroom.

The ice surface is maintained by a direct refrigerant system, rather than by the old heat-exchanged method. The entire network of heating and cooling pipes was reinstalled in the summer of 1985. The new system allows Munn Arena to maintain ice the year around.

The four-sided scoreboard which hangs over center ice was installed for the 1991-92 season as part of a pack- age that included new scoreboards for Spartan Stadium, the Breslin Center and Munn Ice Arena.

The press box, located on the south side of the arena, serves approximately 50 people. A second row boosted capacity from the original 30 seats.

Built into the natural slope of the rolling terrain, the structure gives the impression of being underground, since no external walls are visitble. Clear span roof trusses form an angular roof profile and help provide acoustic control within the arena.

The building also is the sight of the largest planting project on campus, enhancing the beauty of the facility. The surrounding area serves as a teaching and demonstra- tion area for landscape architecture, botany and horticulture students.