Lee & Penny Anderson Arena

The University of St. Thomas’ Lee & Penny Anderson Arena serves as the home for the Tommies’ men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. Designed as an intimate, high-energy venue, the arena offers a range of ticketed experiences for students, alumni, and fans, while also supporting athletes with dedicated practice, training, and film study facilities.

With a demanding event schedule and frequent transitions between hockey and basketball, the facility required a seating solution that could streamline changeovers without adding operational complexity. Irwin Seating Company provided a range of platform systems designed to improve efficiency and reduce the need for duplicate equipment. Dual-rise platforms at the arena ends allow for rapid reconfiguration, while a combination of air-lift and forklift-portable platforms enables staff to quickly reposition seating and bring basketball fans closer to the court.

With a hockey capacity of approximately 4,000, and basketball capacity of 5,300, the arena uses a variety of seating solutions to define premium and general admission experiences. Marquee chairs are featured in suites, Citation chairs in club areas, and Patriot chairs in general seating sections. Retractable and dual-rise platforms incorporate Centura and Gathr chairs to support flexible configurations, while the auxiliary rink is outfitted with Infinity Seat Modules installed on concrete risers.

Architect: Crawford Architects

General Contractor: Ryan Companies

Photo: © Corey Gaffer Photography