NEW MIDLAND CIVIC ARENA DEDICATION THIS WEEKEND

Grab your skates and head to the new Midland Civic Arena on Sunday, October 2 for two free hours of skating and a dedication ceremony celebrating the new 107,000-square-foot facility.

405 Fast Ice Drive, just west of Rockwell Drive off of Bay City Road, is the location of the new arena and the site of the dedication ceremony, which starts at 3 p.m. Two hours of complimentary public skating from 1-3 p.m. will precede the dedication. Parking for over 400 cars is available in the arena lot.

The $10.3 million facility replaces the existing arena at 515 E. Collins Street. Two NHL-sized and one Olympic-sized rink are the main features of this state-of-the-art building, which was six years in the making and a true grassroots effort of many in the Midland community.

“The civic arena is a testament to what a community can do when it comes together to fulfill a common dream,” said Director of Public Services Marty McGuire.

The City of Midland budgeted $500,000 and issued a $6.5 million bond for the project. An additional $3.8 million was pledged over a five-year period by area foundations, and $750,000 in contributions were pledged by Fast Ice, a group of ice enthusiasts that was instrumental in raising funds and awareness of the project.

The facility has 12 locker rooms and 1,000 seats. Three Rivers Corporation of Midland constructed the arena on a more than 10-acre piece of land donated by Nicolaos and Elaine Rapanos.

For more information, contact the Midland Parks and Recreation Department at

989-837-6930.