University of Illinois Ice Arena
Encyclopedia
University of Illinois Ice Arena, also known as the Big Pond, is an ice arena and recreational sport facility located in Champaign, Illinois
and owned and operated by the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The arena serves as the home for the Illinois Fighting Illini
men's and women's college ice hockey teams that competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association
. The men's ice hockey team competes at the ACHA Division I level as a member of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League
and the women's team competes in the Red Division of the Women's Central Hockey League. The Illinois Fighting Illini men's ACHA Division II team plays as an independent team in the Central Region. The facility is also the home of the U of I synchronized skating
team.
The arena features a non standard sized ice sheet approximately 195 ft x 115 ft, by comparison NHL regulation is 200 ft x 80 ft and Olympic regulation ice sheets are 200 ft × 98 ft. The arena is used for ice hockey
, figure skating
and open skating, and local high school hockey.
, the same firm that designed the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium
and Chicago's Soldier Field
. The arena features 4 rows of bleacher seating in an elevated balcony that runs the length of the ice rink on either side. These bleachers provide seating for roughly 1,200 fans, with standing room and bench seating available underneath. Because of this set-up the team benches are actually directly underneath the stands.
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
and owned and operated by the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The arena serves as the home for the Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
men's and women's college ice hockey teams that competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association
American Collegiate Hockey Association
The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments....
. The men's ice hockey team competes at the ACHA Division I level as a member of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League
Central States Collegiate Hockey League
The Central States Collegiate Hockey League is Division I ACHA club level hockey-college athletic conference. The CSCHL is in its 39th season of existence and is one of the top ranked ACHA leagues. It currently has 7 member teams in the Midwestern United States.-Format:League teams play a 20-game...
and the women's team competes in the Red Division of the Women's Central Hockey League. The Illinois Fighting Illini men's ACHA Division II team plays as an independent team in the Central Region. The facility is also the home of the U of I synchronized skating
Synchronized skating
Synchronized skating or synchronised skating, a large and fast-growing discipline, consists of 8—20 athletes skating on ice at one time moving as one flowing unit at high speeds...
team.
The arena features a non standard sized ice sheet approximately 195 ft x 115 ft, by comparison NHL regulation is 200 ft x 80 ft and Olympic regulation ice sheets are 200 ft × 98 ft. The arena is used for ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
and open skating, and local high school hockey.
History
The University of Illinois Ice Arena was built in 1931 and designed by Chicago architecture firm Holabird and RootHolabird & Roche
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm's designs have changed many times — from the Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.-History:...
, the same firm that designed the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Champaign)
thumb|right|300px|Original plan for Memorial Stadium circa 1921. Caption from [[Popular Mechanics]] Magazine, 1921Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located in Champaign, Illinois, in the United States, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The stadium is dedicated as...
and Chicago's Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. The arena features 4 rows of bleacher seating in an elevated balcony that runs the length of the ice rink on either side. These bleachers provide seating for roughly 1,200 fans, with standing room and bench seating available underneath. Because of this set-up the team benches are actually directly underneath the stands.