City Arena

The City Arena, 701 Lake Chapeau Drive, spans almost 100,000 square feet with:

• 2 sheets of ice
• 3 conference rooms for public use
• Several locker rooms
• Space for dog training
• Many storage areas

Built in 1967 as the field house for Lea College, the city bought the building when the college closed and converted it to an ice arena in 1976. Funded by the Albert Lea Hockey Association, the second sheet of ice opened in 1999.

The Arena is the City’s most-used facility with nearly 50,000 people visiting it every year, most of them for hockey games and tournaments.

With support from Albert Lea voters, the Arena is undergoing construction to expand the lobby, reconfigure the Recreation Office, and upgrade several systems, including the refrigeration system for making and maintaining ice. Visit the Recreation Investment page for more information.

The arena is home to the Albert Lea High School girls and boys hockey teams; Albert Lea Hockey Association youth teams; Albert Lea Figure Skating Club; Waldorf College (Forest City, Iowa) hockey; and Freeborn County Kennel Club.

In addition, the arena supports Mites hockey, Learn to Skate lessons, public skate and events like Rock on Ice.

The facility is open year-round, and when the ice is out, hosts indoor soccer, dog shows, banquets and other private events.