Casper Ice Arena expansion project breaks ground
Public-private partnership and community support bring a long-anticipated second sheet of ice to Casper.
The City of Casper, the Casper Amateur Hockey Club, project supporters, donors, and community partners will celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Casper Ice Arena Expansion Project on Monday, September 28, at 5:15 p.m. at the Casper Ice Arena. The ceremony marks the beginning of construction on a second sheet of ice that will expand recreational opportunities, increase event capacity, and support the continued growth of ice sports and community programming throughout the region.
The expansion represents the culmination of years of planning, fundraising, and collaboration. Once completed, the additional sheet of ice will significantly increase available ice time, improve scheduling flexibility, and create new opportunities for youth and adult hockey, figure skating, learn-to-skate programs, public skating, tournaments, and special events.
People are also reading…
“This project reflects what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision,” said Casper Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Director Zulima Lopez. “The strong support from donors, businesses, and community partners has made possible an investment that will expand recreation opportunities for residents of all ages, strengthen our ability to host regional events, and serve Casper for generations to come.”
The new facility will increase the arena's capacity to meet soaring demand for ice sports, especially hockey. For years, limited ice availability has constrained programming and necessitated very early morning and late-night scheduling that is not ideal, especially for youth. The expansion will create additional capacity for local users while positioning Casper to attract larger tournaments and regional events that bring visitors to the community and generate economic activity for local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and retailers.
The project is being delivered through a unique public-private partnership, with substantial support from private donors, businesses, and community organizations led by the Casper Amateur Hockey Club. Approximately 70 percent of the $17.68 million project cost is being funded through private contributions and fundraising efforts. This investment allows the City to leverage approximately $12.35 million in private and partner funding while contributing approximately $4.33 million in cash and $1 million of in-kind contributions toward this major community asset. The expanded facility is expected to nearly double the programming capacity and tournament activity, building upon the estimated $3.3 million in direct visitor spending generated by events hosted at the Casper Ice Arena in 2025.
A significant share of that private investment is being secured through the Put Casper on Ice Campaign, a community-wide fundraising effort that is helping to transform a long-standing vision for expanded ice capacity into reality. The campaign reflects a shared commitment to investing in quality recreation infrastructure and enhancing Casper's reputation as a regional destination for sports and outdoor recreation.
Community members are invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony and help commemorate this important milestone. The event will include brief remarks from project partners and a ceremonial groundbreaking recognizing the many individuals and organizations whose support made the project possible.
