Michigan Board of Regents approves $14 million Yost Arena renovation project
The University of Michigan Board of Regents unanimously approved a $14 million renovation project for Yost Ice Arena on Thursday. The renovations will add premium loge boxes to the arena, replace the bleacher seats, and add more concessions to the arena.
The board approved to contract Southfield-based Rossetti Architecture Inc. for the project. Some Rossetti projects include the lower level box seats at The Palace of Auburn Hills and suites at Michigan International Speedway. The firm is also working on Notre Dame’s new hockey-specific arena, scheduled to open next season.
"This is a big commitment from the athletic department to recognize that Yost can be improved," said head coach Red Berenson.
The loge boxes will be on the fourth level of the west side of the arena, where the press box currently is. A new media area will be added on an additional fifth level.
The facility will also get new exterior windows and lighting with the goal of creating a more inviting atmosphere. The Board of Regents will not be presented with schematic drawings until a future date and none were available for release.
Construction is scheduled to begin after the 2011-12 season, be completed before the the beginning of the 2012-13 season and not expected to affect the Wolverines’ competition schedule.
Yost was constructed in 1923 and renovated into its current use as a hockey-specific arena in 1973. Famous for its old barn atmosphere, the 6,637-seat arena has undergone $8.9 million in renovations since 1996, not including the addition of its new center-hung scoreboard which includes nine LED video displays. The new scoreboard is part of a $20 million project to add large, high-definition video displays to the football, hockey and basketball stadiums.
"Along with the new HD video boards for this upcoming season, this next project will really spruce up the arena and dramatically improve the entire fan experience as far as seating, concessions, lighting and sound," Berenson said. "But at the same time people will sense that this is still Yost, and it's still a special place to watch a game."
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
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