Officials share future of UI Ice Arena after votes certified

Jack Krumm
·1 min read

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The decision to keep the UI Ice Arena has officially been certified. Now, campus officials are sharing what’s next for the rink.

6,000 University of Illinois students voted earlier this month to continue operating the arena as normal, but the results were then unofficial. Now that they have been certified, students will pay $13 more in fees to keep it operating.

Olympians reflect on UI Ice Arena during competition

Campus officials say the vote is a critical step — but not the only one for the future of the arena.

“I think that it showed that there’s definitely a passion and definitely, I think, some sentimental value for both the students and the alumni,” said Marcus Jackson, Executive Director of Campus Recreation. “Even though the alumni couldn’t vote in this ballot, we still got some feedback from them as well that showed that this space certainly had a lot of meaning for those folks.”

U of I will start the early stages of pricing the costs of renovations. The Board of Trustees will decide future steps for the arena.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.