The Madison Capitols (USHL) are planning renovations to Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena, with the future upgrades expected to boost fan amenities.
Leading up to the 2017-18 season, the Capitols faced some uncertainty as to where they would play home games. The original plan was for the team to leave Veterans Memorial Coliseum in favor of Hartmeyer Ice Arena. However, after plans to move to Hartmeyer Ice Arena came up short, the Capitols settled on Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena as their new home.
Located in suburban Middleton, Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena has traditionally offered a seating capacity under 1,400 and little in the way of fan amenities. The Capitols are planning to change that, however, as the team has unveiled a series of improvements that it will work to complete through planned renovation projects. That includes a beer garden, along with suites, a new videoboard, changes to the seating and other upgrades. More from The Wisconsin State Journal:
Preliminary renderings show a new mezzanine built above the team offices behind the east goal, with a beer garden, bar and seating section.
The weight room is due to move from the mezzanine level between the two rinks to unused second-level space in the smaller rink, making room for new suites.
“If someone doesn’t want to come, they don’t want to come,” [Capitols president Andrew] Joudrey said. “But it’s not because you can’t offer them what they want. You have everything from cheap, standard tickets to a suite ticket.” As they have struggled on the ice, the Capitols also have found difficulties gaining a foothold in a busy winter sports landscape in the Madison area.
But Joudrey said the renovations, part of what likely will be a few offseasons of incremental work on the facility that opened in 1999, represent more baby steps for the team.
Prior to their move last year, the Capitols had played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum since 2014.
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