Minnesota State Senate approves funding for Minnesota Schools.

This is good news for BSU

Just in. This is a good news for BSU, UMD and SCSU. Now Governor Tim Pawlenty needs to sign it into law. I would suggest BSU fans start flooding the office of Tim Pawlenty with phone calls.

Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State Would Get Renovations or New Buildings
A Minnesota State Senate committee has approved a $1 billion public works bonding bill Tuesday which included funding for three Division I hockey arenas.


Most notably, $22 million in funding was approved for the Bemidji Regional Events Center, which would include a new hockey arena for the BSU Beavers. It was widely considered, including by the school itself, that a new arena was needed in order to maintain the viability of the men's hockey program.

Also approved was $40 million in funding for the renovation and expansion of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, home of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Built in 1966, the DECC currently holds approximately 5,300 for hockey. The renovations would expand that to 6,500.

St. Cloud State's National Hockey Center will get $10 million to remodel and expand. Also, $10 million was granted to fund a new arena for the Minnesota-Crookston Division III team.

The measure still requires final approval of the legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Here is another link to the story: $1B bonding bill OK'd by Minnesota Senate panel

Hockey players and fans would get four new arenas. They are:

-- A $40 million renovation and expansion of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, with a 6,500-seat hockey facility.

-- $22 million for the Bemidji Regional Event Center, including a college hockey arena.

-- $10 million to remodel and expand the National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State University.

-- $10 million for the proposed Crookston Ice Arena.