Braemar Arena East Rink Reopening Delayed to January 1 Due to Frozen Soil
The east rink at Braemar Arena in Edina, located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, will have its reopening delayed until January 1 due to the discovery of deep frozen soil during renovation, impacting ice availability ahead of the hockey season.
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, August 28, 2026 —
The planned reopening of the east rink at Braemar Arena in Edina has been postponed until January 1. The delay is attributed to the unexpected discovery of deep frozen soil encountered during ongoing renovation work.
This finding has directly impacted the arena’s ability to provide ice availability as the local hockey season approaches. The arena is situated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, a region where ice sports, particularly hockey, are highly popular.
Construction crews encountered the frozen soil issue as they were progressing with the renovation project. The presence of deep frozen ground presents significant challenges for construction timelines and the subsequent preparation required to establish a playable ice surface.
The precise timeline for thawing the soil and completing the necessary preparation work for the rink has led officials to set the new target reopening date for January 1. This date is subject to the successful completion of all outstanding renovation and ice-making tasks.
The delay means that local hockey teams and other ice sports participants will not have access to the east rink for their scheduled activities leading up to the New Year. Arena management is reportedly assessing the impact on user groups and exploring potential alternative arrangements where feasible. Further updates regarding the renovation progress and rink status are expected closer to the revised reopening date.
Story summarized from the original created by Ryan Pattee on kstp.com, see more information here.
