For the past 25 years, athletes of all ages have found a home in Mars Lakeview Arena. Now, the arena is kicking off a round of renovations that will keep it around for years to come.

“I’ve basically skated here since I was very little. I started skating when I was two years old. So this place has meant a lot to me. So I’ve accomplished a lot of things here,” said Madeline Manion, member of the Duluth Figure Skating Club.

“It’s kind of the appropriate time to say, okay, it’s time to upgrade. It’s our birthday present,” said Tom Cartier, committee member of the Mars Lakeview Renovation Project.

The improvements include a brand-new mural created by Tim Cortes, that will celebrate the history of both the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers and the College of St. Scholastica Saints – two schools at the heart of Mars Lakeview Arena.

“You know, I’ve been working with St.’s Athletics for eight years now. And, you know, again, anything that we can do to improve this facility, it’s an exciting facility to watch hockey. I think it’s a premier D3 facility because of how it feels when you’re in here, the atmosphere competing, the crowd feels close, you know, no matter how big that crowd is, you hear them,” said CSS women’s hockey head coach Julianne Vasichek.

Other aspects of the renovation include a new digital screen to be used for promotional opportunities during games and other events, updated training facilities for student athletes, and cosmetic updates across the building. Overall, the project is expected to cost $250,000 and is planned to be completed by the 2025-26 hockey season.

“I think it’d be important to donate to Mars, just because how much this rink’s helped our community with the hockey community at Marshall, as well as Scholastica and the figure skating program. I think it’s kind of just brought us in as a community, and it’s given us so much with being a place to play and skate and just do the things we love to do. And I think it’s just important to give back to what’s brought us all into the rink. Give back to the rink,” said Layton Anderson, junior on the Duluth Marshall boy’s hockey team.

To donate to the Mars Lakeview Arena Renovation Project, click here.