The Minnesota Vikings’ redevelopment of the old Northwest Airlines headquarters into the multi-use complex now known as Viking Lakes has spurred myriad acres of residential, office, retail and commercial development in Eagan, and just across the municipal border in Inver Grove Heights.
On Wednesday, Inver Grove Heights’ place in Minnesota hockey history became official.
As reported by the Pioneer Press this week, the new Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame will begin construction in the northwest corner of Inver Grove Heights in 2026. The project was proposed as a $70 million facility which will include more than 120,000 square feet of museum exhibits, a performance hall, a hockey-themed bar and restaurant plus indoor and outdoor ice rinks.
The tentative opening is scheduled for the spring of 2028.
“The city is thrilled that the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame has selected Inver Grove Heights as its home, and we look forward to welcoming them to our community,” mayor Brenda Dietrich said in a statement. “The site is in our Northwest Area, which has long been envisioned for major development, and the Hall of Fame offers the opportunity for new amenities and attractions that will benefit Inver Grove Heights for years to come.”
The Inver Grove Heights city council recently voted to purchase a 46-acre plot of land to house the complex, spending $8.75 million for the site.
The project was originally announced last summer, with Natalie Darwitz — already been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn. — serving as the new facility’s CEO. Several municipalities in the Twin Cities expressed interest in being home to the museum, which also will include a performance space, a hockey-themed restaurant and bar, and an indoor ice arena.
“Since announcing this legacy project in August, the outpouring of support from players past and present, Minnesota-based companies, and hockey fans statewide has been overwhelming,” Darwitz said in a statement. “We’re truly excited to build our permanent home in Inver Grove Heights, honoring the past and inspiring the future of Minnesota hockey.”
The roll-out included a video, narrated by Minnesota hockey legend Lou Nanne and featuring interviews with hockey players from throughout the state, and concluding with, “Inver Grove Heights, where Minnesota hockey comes home.”
Leave a Reply