USHL Arena Review - Icebox Arena - Lincoln, NE - UPDATED

by Redwing77

Updates at the bottom and in italics where necessary

About the Icebox Arena

The Icebox Arena is the USHL home of the Lincoln Stars.  This arena was built in 1951 but was not originally built for hockey.  The conversion to a hockey arena came in 1997.  It seats just over 4,000 people.

The Facility

This arena is OLD and it's pretty apparent that, when they built this in 1951, the builders never envisioned ice hockey in the facility.  I do not know what this building was originally used for, but sources I talked to suggested it was used for things like agricultural fairs (like 4-H functions), rodeos, and the like.  It does have a concert configuration that would seat 5,000 but I've never heard of a concert being held at this facility.  It truly seems like the Stars are the primary tenants.

The arena features true rustic flavor with only a few upgrades that separate it from the likes of the Buccaneer Arena of Des Moines.  There is a bar area that opens up to the arena at the north end of the rink as well as a small balcony that seats a few fans (sorry, I am unaware of exactly how many).

The seating is very basic plastic fold-down seating.  They are more comfortable and less splinter-prone than the Buccaneer Arena's benches but other than that, it's about the same atmosphere (without the fans).  Sadly, the arena could be DRAMATICALLY improved if they invested in cup holders.  As it may, full houses at the arena are NOT pleasant experiences if you are trying to do anything other than watch the game.

There are no screens or fancy technology like jumbotrons in this arena.  I am unsure as to why they have not done what Buccaneer arena has done and simply hoisted a projector screen and mounted a projector to the roof.  If PowerPoint and basic video could work for Des Moines, it would work for Lincoln.

The most notable "issues" lie in bathrooms.  Be prepared to do some waiting as there appears to be only one men's and one women's bathroom. I cannot speak about the women's bathroom but the men's bathroom isn't the cleanest and well maintained.  Okay, I was told that there are in fact 4 mens bathrooms in this facility.  I say "told" because all but one must be hidden in the Club area.  I've yet to find them.

Also, the lighting is not very good and, though you won't have trouble seeing anything (especially if it is on the ice), it does seem like it is very much like a cave inside the arena.I'm told they have HD lighting...whatever that is.  However, no matter how offended the complaint is about this comment, I stand by it.  This is the only arena I've ever been to where I could not make out what people on the other side of the rink were wearing.  I know that's not the point of a hockey game, but... if it wasn't on the ice it wasn't really clear to see without the spotlight.  Sorry, but I stand by my comment.

In the concourse they have big projector screens that show whatever hockey games they can find on television...or football games if the purveyors deem it important enough to the Lincoln crowd.  Why they can do this and not put on in the rink area, nor post goal cameras for replays is beyond me.

I cannot give this facility a good grade.  However, it IS better than Des Moines.

Grade:  C-

Ice Quality

If you discount aesthetics, the ice is good, but not great.  They do not have the rough ice that Kearney has, but there are issues.  Most notable issues lies in bacterial growth between layers of ice that gives the ice a blotchy, brown color in places.  The coolant pipes aren't well placed either, most likely due to the conversion process rather than the purpose-built nature of the building.  This has caused the ice crew to accidentally drill into the coolant pipes when drilling the holes for the goal pegs.  This season has already seen a game called due to this issue.

Grade:  C-

Food

So far, not so good for the Icebox, but here's where it improves.  This arena features fresh grilled burgers and brats as well as Valentino's Pizza (for those of you who do not know it, Valentino's Pizza actually tastes good in Nebraska) on top of the typical arena fare.  Quite honestly, the burgers are great and you can vouch for their freshness as you can watch them being grilled outdoors as you walk into the arena.

Sadly, they serve Pepsi. 

Grade:  A

Entertainment

Ok, they do not have a lot of technology in this building but what they DO have as what is quite honestly the BEST opening intro in the USHL that I've seen.  It is a nice mix of rock music and lighting (often featuring music by Eminem, Metallica, Marilyn Manson, AC/DC, theme from Halloween, and I'm sure others).  The centerpiece is a massive metal worked Lincoln Star emblem that is lowered from the ceiling and lit with a light show during introductions.  It is simply fantastic.  I'd argue the intros plus a burger is worth admission by itself.

The Icebox also features a really good PA announcer (UND fans may get this reference:   Their PA announcer reminds me a lot of Scott Hannan (sp) when he did UND games at the Ralph).  He's basically a one man show doing all of the PA announcements and, IIRC, the intermission entertainment as well.

Intermission entertainment varies from game to game but I've seen human bowling and chuck a puck promotions, though the chuck a puck promotion was not a regular event like it is in Des Moines, Omaha, and Kearney.

They also feature a guy with a hot dog cannon.  This wouldn't be all that noteworthy if it wasn't the same guy that does the Husker home games... and if you knew what all that air pressure and the walls of the arena did to those hot dogs....  It's good for a laugh at least.

This arena also has a playlist that occurs at almost every single game.  At certain times in the game, a song will come on and the spotlight will highlight someone who dances with or without a gimmick or it will promote a certain reaction by the crowd.

For example, every game features an Elvis song with a man who is spotlit and dances with an Elvis wig and glasses on (the guy's nickname is even Elvis it appears).  Or they'll play the theme from Hawaii 5-0h and Section K will make the motions of rowing a canoe complete with yelling "stroke" and switching directions upon the command of a brave leader in that section.  Other songs featured are Cotton Eye Joe and Mickey by Toni Basil.

Grade:  A to A+

The Visitor Experience

As a Lancer fan, the experience is very varied.  The Lincoln Stars have the same relationship with the Omaha Lancers as UND has with Minnesota.  I have talked to Lancer fans who have not been treated very well at the Icebox and I have talked to Stars fans who have not been treated well by Lancer fans.

In the end, it depends upon behavior at the rink and the section you sit in.  I, personally, wouldn't dream of sitting anywhere other than Section K.  The people I have met in that section were truly fantastic people and have a great sense of humor.

Grade:  A+

Overall

The Icebox, to me, is a great place, but it is an acquired taste.  Those of us who are used to high tech or state of the art facilities most likely will not like the Icebox.  It isn't that hostile of an environment for a visitor and the food and entertainment is top notch, though.  As for the future, this building is beyond its useful life... and the Stars are locked into the facility for the better part of 20 more years.  There are questions as to what will happen to the Stars as the Icebox sits on land that the University of Nebraska Lincoln could very well claim for their own (the Icebox is just across a parking lot from the Devaney Center, the former home of Husker basketball).  I, for one, hope they do figure something out sooner rather than later.  I do not know if the Icebox will survive the Stars' lease.

Grade:  B- (Facility lowers the score, sadly)

UPDATE Text:  Apparently someone was really offended by this review, but I stand by it.  I went there as a visitor, not as a member of the media.  The person who complained cited some benefits to the arena that, quite honestly, make no difference to the general public (I could care less about any rooms offered to the media and scouts.  I do not get to use it nor do 99% of the people who go to the games).  It's not highly inaccurate as the complainer protests.  It is my honest opinion of the arena experience.  He cites  that over $500,000 in improvements were made to the arena since new ownership took over.  That's a lot of money, sure, but whatever improvements were made, they must be behind the scenes or happened before the first time I stepped in the arena last spring. 

Quite honestly, I understand the pride in an organization and the people you work for and represent, but it is what it is.  The Icebox is an old arena.  It wasn't originally built for hockey.  They've done a good job adapting it for the most part but there are serious issues with the arena (age being one of them and the bacteria is another).  I said it before:  I stand by my review.  The Icebox isn't a dump.  It is a great place to see hockey, but there could be improvements.  The two most pressing improvements, in my opinion, would be cup holders and installing a goal cam system for booth reviews.  After that, do what Des Moines did and put up two screens and two projectors and Viva les PowerPoint!  I would say the ice issue, but I have no solution for that and I doubt the folks at the Icebox are just sitting back and saying "Oh well" on that issue.