Braemar Arena Construction to Start Earlier Than Originally Planned

Construction at Braemar Arena will start earlier than originally planned following the Edina City Council’s February approval of a spending package for the initial phase of the renovation and expansion project. The project start date has been moved up to March 16 rather than late summer. The first phase will involve building a new rink floor for the South Rink as well as replacing dasher boards and glass in that rink.

When South Rink construction ends in mid-June, work will shift to the East Rink where that rink floor and its dasher boards and glass will be replaced. East Rink construction is slated to end by mid-October.

“Starting these rink floors right after the winter season ends will allow us to keep two rinks operational throughout the spring and summer and then be back up to three operational indoor rinks in the fall when figure skating and hockey seasons are in full swing,” said Braemar Arena General Manager Jesse Buchholz. “Our top priority is to build a better Braemar Arena, but we also want to plan the construction to minimize disruptions to our core Edina community as much as possible.”

The City Council approved $5.7 million in expenditures for the first phase, which includes the removal and full reconstruction of the South and East Rink floor systems. The old flooring systems will be demolished and removed and new concrete floor systems installed with subfloor heating, fine grading and floor insulation. A portable chiller system that will be used throughout the project as well as new piping mains for the West Rink are also included.

While Braemar Arena is beloved for its rich heritage and countless memories, the ice quality has diminished over its many years of operation and mechanical failures are occurring more frequently because the infrastructure systems are past or near the end of their expected lifecycles.

“Building new ice-making systems and replacing existing uneven rink floors will significantly improve ice quality and enhance the user experience,” said Buchholz. “With this initial phase, new dasher boards with significantly higher safety ratings than the current system will be installed, improving player safety and creating more consistent play. The result will be much better ice quality, reliability and player safety during the 2026-2027 winter season and beyond.”

With construction beginning, the Braemar Arena south parking lot is now closed to the public through the fall of 2027. The main upper lot will remain open.