Nelson Center

Nelson Center
Map
Location1601 North 5th Street
Springfield, IL 62702
Public transitBus transport SMTD
OwnerSpringfield Park District
OperatorSpringfield Park District
Capacity2,100 (hockey)
Surface200' x 85'(hockey)
Tenants
Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL)

The Franklin P. Nelson Recreation Center ("Nelson Center") is a 2,100-seat multi purpose ice arena and recreational facility located in Springfield, Illinois.[1] The ice arena has two NHL regulation-sized ice sheets.

It is the home to the Springfield Jr. Blues of the North American Hockey League[2] and former home of the Robert Morris–Springfield Eagles men's ice hockey team competing at the ACHA Division III level in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association.[3][4] The Nelson center is also home to several local high school ice hockey teams,[5] and is used by local figure skating clubs, youth, and adult recreational ice hockey leagues, as well as public skating.

The Nelson Center was opened with one ice rink in the early 1970s.[6] The second rink was opened in 2002.[7]

On May 30, 1976, the rock band Rush played the Nelson Center, a stop on the band's 2112 concert tour.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "The History of Hockey in Springfield". dexknows.com. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  2. ^ "Jr. Blues Forward Trent Frey Commits to Div. I Mercy Hurst". Our Sports Central. January 27, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "Jr. Blues Hitting a High Note Down South". North American Hockey League. November 16, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  4. ^ "Facilities". rmueagles.com. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  5. ^ "Nelson Center". Lincoln Land High School Hockey. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  6. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  7. ^ "Ohio State to refill Mirror Lake from underground well".
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Rush 1976 05 30 Springfield (soundboard). YouTube.
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39°49′40.0″N 89°39′4.3″W / 39.827778°N 89.651194°W / 39.827778; -89.651194