Harding Mazzotti Arena reports attendance gains and $350,000 in capital work; new ice-plant study estimates $4.5–7 million

Harding Mazzotti Arena officials gave the tourism committee an annual update, saying crowd attendance and non-hockey revenues improved in 2024–25 while capital needs are mounting — most notably the arena’s 25-year-old ice plant.

Jeff Mead, arena manager, said the Thunder hockey team drew average attendance of about 4,500 fans per game with 16 sellouts and more than 2,300 season-ticket equivalents, making it the team’s best off-ice season since 2015. "Average attendance was over 4,500 fans per game. 16 sold out games out of our 36," Mead said. The arena invested more than $350,000 back into the building this year, including $175,000 for bathroom renovations and $120,000 for mechanical repairs.

Mead said Heritage Hall tripled events and revenues after a renovation funded in part by the county, and that new naming-rights sponsorship (Cardi Mazzotti) is a five-year deal with an already negotiated five-year extension option.

The arena faces a major infrastructure decision: Mead said the county has signed a $40,000 study to evaluate options to replace the ice plant, and the initial estimate for replacement is between $4.5 million and $7 million. "So that's our our biggest concern and our the biggest need for the building going forward," he told the committee.

What happens next: the study will identify replacement options and cost estimates; arena management said they are pursuing major concerts and other events to improve off-ice revenue and will continue to report to the committee on repair plans and funding needs.