Michigan State OKs $18.8 million Munn Ice Arena expansion

EAST LANSING — Construction on an addition to Munn Ice Arena could begin this month on Michigan State University's campus.

MSU trustees approved an $18.8 million arena expansion project Friday. It includes a 35,000 square foot addition, a new entrance, better training facilities, renovated office space and more. 

The work should be finished by December, 2020, according to university documents. The project was originally expected to cost between $14 million and $16 million. 

Arena upgrades were temporarily put on hold as the university solicited donations in 2017. Trustees approved the expansion in August.

Munn Ice Arena opened in 1974 and has "fallen behind its peers," Associate Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning Daniel Bollman wrote in an August memo to trustees.

The arena lacked a team meeting space, operational areas, energy efficiencies or the "appropriate presence" for a facility that hosts 6,800 people, he wrote in the memo.

Munn received $6.5 million in upgrades in 2014, including a new HVAC system, ice sheet boards and glass for the rink and sound system.

More:Danton Cole: Munn Ice Arena renovations 'transformative' for MSU hockey program

Contact Carol Thompson at (517) 377-1018 or ckthompson@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @thompsoncarolk.