Gene Polisseni Center
Gene Polisseni Center during an open skate
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| Location | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY 14623 |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Owner | Rochester Institute of Technology |
| Operator | Rochester Institute of Technology |
| Capacity | Ice Hockey: 4,300[1] Concerts: 5,980 |
| Field size | 200x85ft[2] |
| Surface | Ice |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 19, 2012 [3] |
| Opened | September 18, 2014[2] |
| Construction cost | $38 million USD[2] |
| Architect | BBB Architects[4] |
| Main contractors | LeChase Construction Services, LLC[2] |
| Tenants | |
| RIT Tigers (men) RIT Tigers (women) |
2014–Present 2014–Present |
| Website | |
| http://www.rit.edu/fa/arenas | |
The Gene Polisseni Center is an ice arena that resides on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Rochester, New York. Ground was broken for the project on October 19, 2012,[2] and the arena was officially dedicated on September 18, 2014.[5]
The new arena is the home of the varsity ice hockey teams at RIT, replacing the Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena. Ritter Arena will not be demolished, and continues to be used as an ice arena.[6] The Polisseni Center serves primarily as a hockey arena (for both RIT varsity hockey and local youth programs), and it will also be a multi-purpose venue.[6] The Polisseni Center is built not far from Ritter Arena on the RIT campus, south of the Student Alumni Union, replacing portions of parking lot U.[7]
Fundraising efforts
Fundraising was started with a $1 million USD donation from Stephen and Vicki Schultz.[8] Naming rights were given based on a $4.5 million USD donation from the Polisseni Foundation (with backing from B. Thomas Golisano)[9] and were announced on November 11, 2011 during the men's hockey game against Air Force.[10]
With arena construction being an estimated $30 million, the funding of the project has been divided into two components. The first half will be borrowed against RIT's endowment fund (worth $544 million),[11] and paid back with sponsorship and ticket sales. The second half of the cost is a grassroots fundraising effort called the Tiger Power Play. The Tiger Power Play is an effort to bring in both big name donations (like Tom Golisano) as well as garner support from students and alumni. Small donations could be made by cell phone text message. Larger donations have been working directly with school administration. Sales of nameplates for seats is also available, initially costing $1,000 per nameplate, and later reduced to $500.[12]
J.M. Allain, CEO of Trans-Lux and an RIT graduate, donated $1 million for a new video scoreboard.[2]
References
- ↑ http://www.rit.edu/fa/arenas/gene-polisseni-center/about-facility
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Groundbreaking for RIT’s Polisseni Center slated for Oct. 19 http://www.uscho.com/2012/09/04/groundbreaking-for-rits-polisseni-center-slated-for-oct-19/
- ↑ RIT Selects Architect for Gene Polisseni Center http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=49144
- ↑ http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=50983
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ice Hockey Arena FAQs http://www.rit.edu/development/giving/powerplay/about-power-play.php
- ↑ RIT Selects Official Site for New Arena http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=49217
- ↑ From out of the 'Corner' and into the spotlight http://www.rit.edu/news/athenaeum_story.php?id=48003
- ↑ Future RIT Hockey Arena to become the Gene Polisseni Center http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=48695
- ↑ Naming Announcement Ceremony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izxXK-QVBxs
- ↑ As of June 30, 2009.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Take a Seat in the Gene Polisseni Center https://www.rit.edu/development/giving/home_makeagift_buyaseat.php
