Strike up the band!
Kent State University is renovating the recreation side of its Ice Arena to provide a top-notch indoor facility with educational and rehearsal space for the Marching Golden Flashes.
The band, which boasts around 130 student members, must relocate from its current practice space along Main Street because of scheduled street renovations.
The renovation of the Ice Arena at 650 Loop Road, will address a decades-long deficit in space for the marching band, a valued academic program on campus, which is part of the university’s nationally ranked College of the Arts.
“Having a first-class Marching Band facility that meets the standards of today’s musical rehearsal spaces will aid the recruitment and retention of talented musicians from all majors across the university,” said Kent McWilliams, director of Kent State’s School of Music. “This dedicated facility for the Marching Golden Flashes will not only accommodate the current band but will also allow for future growth of this flourishing program.”
An additional benefit of the new Marching Band facility is to create more room in the current School of Music for much-needed practice and teaching facilities.
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“For the first time, we will have the ability to have all sections of the marching band rehearse safely indoors simultaneously,” said Darin Olson, Director of Athletic Bands. “This building also provides practice rooms, storage areas, and a new flexible venue for classes, recitals, or general university events."
The Marching Golden Flashes, established in 1919, serve as the most visible musical ambassador of Kent State’s Athletic Department, the Glauser School of Music and Kent State University. Membership is open to all Kent students regardless of major. As the largest student organization on campus, the Marching Golden Flashes represents virtually every school on campus.
The renovation, estimated to cost $6.5 million and includes a new roof and renovated restrooms, preserves the competition ice rink in the facility for students, staff, faculty, and local hockey programs.
The Kent State Board of Trustees is expected to approve the renovations at its June 23, 2021, meeting.
The Ice Arena, constructed in 1970, was most recently used in the university's pandemic response as a location for COVID-19 testing and vaccination.
The ice arena is home to the Kent State ACHA Hockey Team and the Kent State Figure Skating Team. It is also home to six area high school teams, a figure skating club and a youth hockey program.
Kent State University Ice Arena programming, community high schools and youth programs will continue to be able to use the competition rink.
Public skating sessions will be announced at a later date.
Reservation and usage questions for the competition ice rink should be sent to icearena@kent.edu.