w/dolan mug june

A $10 million gift from alumnus Tom Dolan and the Dolan Family Foundation has set the project in motion.

“I am very pleased to sponsor a grant from the Dolan Family Foundation to assist St. Lawrence in renovating Appleton Arena,” Dolan said in an announcement from SLU. “I congratulate the university for producing a plan that assures Appleton will retain the charm of its historic personality while adding important 21st-century amenities."

The renovation will “enhance the appeal of the facility” for both athletes and the fans, all the while “preserving the charm” of the iconic wood seating and the vaulted roof, SLU said.

For fans, improvements include a new entrance, widened concourses, expanded concessions, additional social spaces, and improved broadcast and live streaming technologies.

For athletes, improvements involve providing the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs with superior facilities. The project also creates new features and locker room space for Saints’ NCAA Division III men and women’s lacrosse, field hockey, softball and the men’s and women’s rowing teams. The changes will also result in more wellness space for students, faculty and staff in the Stafford Fitness Center in the Newell Field House complex.

With the addition of a $1.5 million gift from the Torrey and MacAllaster families in memory of William A. (Bill) Torrey Sr., current fundraising for the project totals $11.5 million.

“Appleton is a place that generations of Laurentians recall with fond memory, and these lead gifts will enable St. Lawrence to realize our vision for the future,” SLU president William L. Fox said in the announcement.

SLU has worked with global design firm HOK, one of the premier architectural companies for designing sports venues in North America, during the past year. Detailed project plans including construction timelines and costs will be finalized this fall. Construction will not impact home games for either of the hockey teams, school officials said.