Lawson Ice Arena

Lawson Ice Arena. The arena is home to the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team, which competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. It has also hosted various events, including concerts and United States Figure Skating Association competitions, featuring skaters like Nancy Kerrigan and Todd Eldredge. The arena is named after Western Michigan University's former president, James W. Miller, and Margaret Lawson, a long-time supporter of the university, with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

● History

The Lawson Ice Arena was opened in 1974, with its first game featuring the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team against the University of Michigan Wolverines. The arena has undergone several renovations, including a major upgrade in 2001, funded by Western Michigan University and the State of Michigan, with support from U.S. Senator Carl Levin and U.S. Representative Fred Upton. The arena has hosted many notable events, including the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program games, featuring players like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. The arena has also been used for Kalamazoo Wings games, a minor league ice hockey team that competes in the ECHL and is affiliated with the Vancouver Canucks and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

● Facilities

The Lawson Ice Arena features an ice rink with a seating capacity of over 3,800, making it an ideal venue for Western Michigan University hockey games and other events, such as concerts and Disney on Ice shows, which have featured characters like Mickey Mouse and Anna and Elsa. The arena is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a Olympic-sized ice rink, a concession stand, and a pro shop, which sells equipment from brands like CCM and Bauer Hockey. The arena also has a weight room and a training room, which are used by the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team and other Western Michigan University athletic teams, such as the Western Michigan Broncos football team, which competes in the Mid-American Conference.

● Events

The Lawson Ice Arena has hosted a wide range of events, including Western Michigan University hockey games, Kalamazoo Wings games, and USA Hockey games, featuring teams like the United States men's national ice hockey team and the United States women's national ice hockey team. The arena has also been used for concerts, featuring performers like Elton John and KISS, and Disney on Ice shows, which have featured characters like The Incredibles and Toy Story. The arena has also hosted United States Figure Skating Association competitions, featuring skaters like Scott Hamilton and Kristi Yamaguchi, and Speed skating events, featuring athletes like Shani Davis and Joey Cheek.

● Location

The Lawson Ice Arena is located on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, near the Kalamazoo River and the Asylum Lake Preserve. The arena is situated near other Western Michigan University facilities, including the Waldo Stadium and the Kanley Chapel, and is accessible from U.S. Route 131 and Interstate 94. The arena is also close to other attractions in Kalamazoo, Michigan, such as the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the Air Zoo, which features aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird and the F-14 Tomcat.

● Usage

The Lawson Ice Arena is primarily used for Western Michigan University hockey games and other ice hockey events, such as Kalamazoo Wings games and USA Hockey games, featuring teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. The arena is also used for concerts, Disney on Ice shows, and other events, such as United States Figure Skating Association competitions and Speed skating events, featuring athletes like Apolo Ohno and Bonnie Blair. The arena is an important part of the Western Michigan University athletic program and is also used by other organizations, such as the Kalamazoo Figure Skating Club and the Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association, which are affiliated with the United States Figure Skating Association and the U.S. Speedskating. The arena has hosted events featuring notable figures like Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr, and has been used by teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins for training camps and exhibitions.