The University of St. Thomas is currently constructing a new Division I arena on campus, intended for basketball and hockey games. However, this project has sparked concerns among some residents in the area regarding issues such as parking, traffic, and potential environmental impacts. In response to these concerns, “Just Say No” signs have been placed in yards as a form of protest against the arena. One group of residents even took their concerns a step further by appealing the site plan approval with the City of St. Paul, which has resulted in a pause in construction until the matter is resolved.
Despite opposition from some residents, the University of St. Thomas intends to move forward with their plans and open the new arena in the fall of 2025. The goal is to have a facility that can accommodate basketball and hockey games at the Division I level, providing a space for both students and athletes to enjoy. While there are challenges to address, such as parking and traffic management, the university is committed to working with the community to ensure that the arena benefits all parties involved.
Don Waage, a spokesperson for the resident group Advocates for Responsible Development, stated that they would prefer the University to find a different site for the arena due to numerous problems surrounding parking, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic. In response, Jerome Benner, director of Neighborhood and University Relations for the University of St. Thomas emphasized that they have collaborated with various city and state agencies on the plans and held multiple listening sessions with neighbors to address their concerns. Benner also mentioned that shuttle services and pre-assigned parking will be utilized to alleviate traffic and parking issues on most nights when only 50%-60% of seats are filled at 5400 seat arena