Ohio State plans new facility for women's, men's hockey teams

Ohio State's expansion of its athletic campus is planning to include both its men's and women's hockey teams.

According to the agenda for its meeting Thursday, the Ohio State Board of Trustees is proposing a new ice rink to house the men's and women's hockey teams near the Covelli Center, Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium and the Ty Tucker Tennis Center off Fred Taylor Drive.

Per approval, construction would begin in June 2024 with the facility opening in April 2026.

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The project is set to include team locker rooms, an athletic lounge, team dining and nutrition, support services, offices for the coaching staff and team training and expansion of spectator seating capacity and broadcasting capabilities.

The budget for the ice rink replacement is still to be determined, while the university confirmed that it is seeking $2.7 million for professional services, including design, for the Ice Rink Replacement project, which will determine the full scope, programming and project cost.

“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.”

The Ohio State men's hockey team has played its home games at the Schottenstein Center since 1999. The women play in the OSU Ice Rink.

This proposal eliminates the initial plan from February 2021 of a multi-purpose field in north of the Covelli Center with the ice rink replacement being installed in the southwest corner of the Schottenstein Center.