Rendering of the arena view for the planned addition at Cornerstone Community Center, July 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Cornerstone Community Center)
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Groundbreaking is expected this fall for the addition of a fourth ice rink at the Cornerstone Community Center.
The $22 million project includes a 3,000-seat arena, which will be used for tournaments as well as the St. Norbert College men’s and women’s hockey teams. It is expected to open in fall, 2025.
So far, about $16 million has been raised, Cornerstone director Don Chilson said.
“This season will mark our 25th year and It’s important to us to fully fund this campaign as it will allow the Cornerstone to move into the next 25 years with the ability to continue to upgrade the current facilities and remain one of the most state of the art Ice Arenas in the State of Wisconsin,” he said.
The hope is Cornerstone’s expansion would increase the amount of teams it hosts by 25% each year, make it a regular destination for national hockey tournaments, and perhaps even lure the state WIAA hockey tournament away from a 2,600-seat arena in Middleton.
The project received a $1 million grant from Brown County earlier this year, as well as $200,000 from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. The facility is seeking other donors, including building naming rights, Chilson said.
For its part of the project, SNC is raising $1.5 million for state-of-the-art locker rooms for the men’s and women’s teams, as well as a weight room, meeting rooms and offices.
“Twelve Frozen Fours, nine national championship games, five titles, sixty-plus All-Americans, five national players of the year; The men’s program has created an impressive legacy, and the best is yet to come. To be able to move to Rink Four at the Cornerstone, and to build the facilities that our athletes deserve, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we are excited about it,” said Tim Coghlin, men’s head coach, on the school’s fundraising page.
The current rink with the most seating has 1,674 seats. It hosts SNC men’s games, as well as high school and other levels.
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