$25 Million Fundraising Campaign Announced For New Ice Hockey Arena
THE BOOSTER CLUB FOR THE ICE HOCKEY TEAM AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL ANNOUNCES A $25 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW ICE HOCKEY ARENA PLANNED IN CHAPEL HILL
Sentiment Remains High for the Arena, which will be a Multi-Use Facility for Community Events and the Future Home of the Ice Hockey Team at UNC-Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC, Sept. 5, 2024 – The North Carolina Tar Heels Ice Hockey Booster Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides fundraising support for the Ice Hockey Team at UNC-Chapel Hill, an ACHA Division II Ice Hockey Team, today announced a $25 million capital campaign to construct a 3,000-seat multi-use ice hockey arena in Chapel Hill.
“We are very pleased with the positive feedback that we continue to receive from the Chapel Hill and Orange County communities for a multi-use ice hockey arena and entertainment complex,” said Colin Wahl, President, The North Carolina Tar Heels Ice Hockey Booster Club Inc. “There is much enthusiasm from potential tenants and community residents alike who view the future arena as an important asset to the community for ice hockey, entertainment events, and family-focused community activities.”
Capital Campaign Update
This month, The Booster Club will initiate a three-year $25 million capital campaign and will actively pursue interest for naming rights of the arena. The new arena will be located at Carraway Village, conveniently off Interstate 40 in Chapel Hill with easy access to/from the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. The capital campaign will be supported by an Advisory Board of business executives, UNC alumni, community leaders, and ice hockey enthusiasts.
Carraway Village Land Agreement
The Booster Club and owner of Carraway Village, Northwood Ravin, have completed a land purchase agreement to place the land “under contract.” The Club is actively pursuing funding to close on the four-acre property no later than May 2025.
Arena Construction Timeline
Once the land closing is completed (by May 2025), the Booster Club’s Board expects the arena will be completed in approximately 36 months to allow for permitting, inspection, and construction of the new facility.
UNC-Chapel Hill Alumni Outreach
The Booster Club is planning outreach to UNC alumni to support the proposed arena. The Club is engaged in conversations with UNC-Chapel Hill to host their collegiate ice hockey clubs at the proposed arena.
The Booster Club is leading the arena project fundraising and construction effort. The Booster Club is not affiliated with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Ice Hockey club at UNC-Chapel Hill is part of the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL). It competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II Premier ice hockey tier. The ACHA recently announced that the team would be moved up to “Division 1” at the start of the 2025-26 season. Furthermore, the ACCHL just announced the launch of an Ice Hockey club for women at UNC-Chapel Hill to start with the 2025-26 season.
The Booster Club’s board of directors will continue to issue future updates on the status of its capital campaign.
Contact:
Alfred Leach
Leach Advisors
203-722-0923
alfred.leach@leachadvisors.com
About The North Carolina Tar Heels Ice Hockey Booster Club
The North Carolina Tar Heels Ice Hockey Booster Club is a non-profit corporation organized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The Booster Club is led by a Board of Directors whose main objective is to assist in securing funding to help the Ice Hockey Club at UNC-Chapel Hill compete at the intercollegiate level. For more information, visit www.UNChockey.com. #
