UPDATE: Arena advances in competition
UPDATE — Sunday, April 17th, 2016 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Lakeview Arena is one step closer to winning a big prize.
One of the U.P.’s most well known rinks has been selected as one of four finalists in the Kraft Hockeyville USA 2016 competition. The winner of the contest gets $150,000 for arena upgrades and the opportunity to host an NHL preseason game.
The next round of voting in the competition for Marquette’s hockey arena starts on Tuesday, April, 19th. Individuals can vote up to 50 times per day by texting ‘Lakeview’ to 35350. We will have more on this story coming up Monday at 5:30 & 6:00 p.m. on ABC 10.
MARQUETTE — A sports facility in Marquette is hoping for a big win in a very special national event.
Lakeview Arena has been selected as one of the ten finalists in the Kraft Hockeyville USA 2016 competition. The winner of the contest gets $150,000 for arena upgrades and the chance to host an NHL preseason game.
The arena is no stranger to the competition – they tried out last year as well.
“This year obviously we’re a little bit closer because we’re actually in the top ten,” said Andrew MacIver, Parks and Recreation Coordinator for the City of Marquette . “Last year, we weren’t selected. We felt pretty let down, and this year it almost seems somewhat like a vindication, but it’s just great to be here. It’s exciting for the community. This isn’t just about Lakeview Arena. This is about the community of Marquette.”
Officials hope the winnings will help them undertake improvements to help service the hockey players who help bolster the community.
“Every winter you really have to think about hockey and what it brings to the community,” MacIver added, “because it fills hotel rooms and fills restaurants and the local shops. A lot of people don’t realize that – that those teams come here, and they stay here for the weekend.”
The first round of voting begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday. Click here to find out more about how to vote in the competition. Click here to follow Lakeview Arena on Facebook.
Vote now at Kraft Hockeyville.