Iron Trail Motors Event Center Explained

Stadium Name:Iron Trail Motors Event Center
Location:919 6th St S Virginia, Minnesota 55792
Opened:2021
Nickname:MECC
Owner:The City of Virginia
Seating Capacity:5,000+
Tenants:Rock Ridge Wolverines (2021 - present)
Publictransit:Arrowhead Public Transportation
Surface:Ice
Cost:$38 Million
Operator:The City of Virginia
Logo Image:Iron Trail Motors Event Center Logo.png

Iron Trail Motors Event Center is an ice arena and Event Center located in the city of Virginia, Minnesota. It was completed in September 2021.[1] The two-story building has a 120,000 square-foot total area and includes two ice rinks, fitness facilities and a 6,400-square-foot ballroom for weddings. It can also be used as a venue center for concerts.[1] The arena offers skating lessons, open skating and open hockey.[2] The arena is the home rink for the Rock Ridge Wolverines Hockey.[3] The Rock Ridge Hockey Association coordinates the youth hockey program.

History

The Miners Memorial Building was originally built in 1958 and that arena was used for Virginia Blue Devils hockey until the 2020-2021 season and was demolished in 2021 after the last high school game in the Miners Virginia vs. their biggest rivals of the time Eveleth.[4] [5] The two teams were rivals until the 2021 season when the two teams as the Rock Ridge Wolverines due to the new Rock Ridge High school and elementary schools being opened in 2022 (Elem.) and 2023 (HS).[6] [7] The new Iron Trail Motors Event Center was originally going to be named Miners Event Convention Center (MECC) but Iron Trail Motors, a car dealership in Virginia off U.S. 53 bought stakes in the arena in summer 2021 and changed the name for 20 years at a cost of 1.1 million dollars.[8] [9]

External links

47.517°N -92.5474°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-09-20 . The Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, Minnesota, completed . 2022-01-23 . Construction Review Online . en-us.
  2. Web site: Facilities. 2021-09-03. en-US.
  3. Web site: Rock Ridge Wolverines - Hockey, Boys - Teams - MSHSL . 2022-01-23 . www.mshsl.org . en.
  4. Web site: 2021-03-20. Virginia/MIB Boys Hockey to Face Rivals Eveleth-Gilbert in Final Game at Miners Memorial Building. 2021-09-03. Fox21Online. en-US.
  5. News: Ryan . Leah . New Miners building 'is a major, not a minor project' . en . Mesabi Daily . 2022-01-23.
  6. News: 2022-01-08 . Eveleth's Hippodrome 'smells like hockey history' . en . Duluth News Tribune . 2022-01-23.
  7. Web site: Schools. 2021-09-03. Rock Ridge Public Schools.
  8. News: Iron Trail Motors secures naming rights for event center . en . Business North . 2022-01-23.
  9. Web site: 2021-07-16. New event center to open in September . 2021-09-03. Hometown Focus.