Martire Family Arena: A crown jewel of college hockey

House of the Pioneers of the Sacred Heart, Martyr Family Arena is one of the best venues in all of college hockey.

The $75 million state-of-the-art hockey and skating arena opened in January 2023 and uses the latest ice management technology to create a professional experience for all athletes. The 122,580-square-foot arena, designed by JLG Architects, is the crown jewel of Sacred Heart University's West Campus.

We take a closer look at the Martire Family Arena in this month's cover story of Atlantic Hockey America Building Champions, presented by JLG Architects.

Martire Family Arena Fast Facts
Address: Sacred Heart University West Campus
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06825
broke ground: March 15, 2021
Opened: January 14, 2023
Costs: $75 million
Capacity: 4,000
Design: Collaboration with JLG Architects, SLAM Collaborative, Dimensional Innovations and Consigli Construction

Multifunctional facility

Martire Family Arena hosts many different teams and events throughout the year.

The location hosts Sacred Hearts' NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey programs, as well as the school's nationally ranked figure skating team and the men's and women's field hockey teams. In addition, the arena serves as home ice for the Notre Dame High School and Fairfield High School programs.

In addition to on-ice action, the multi-purpose facility also serves as a hands-on learning laboratory and classroom for SHU students studying in many areas, including sports communications and media, sports management and hospitality.

Not a bad seat in the House

There really isn't a bad seat in the Martire Family Arena house. Focused on the fan and community experience, the venue offers unobstructed and scenic views from every seat in the barn.

The seating bowl includes ten rows of steep fan seats that surround the rink and create an environment where fans are right on top of the action. The seating bowl is a perfect oval with no faceted corners, and the curved parts perfectly envelop the 85 x 200 ice sheet.

Fans even have a great view of the action when they're not in their seats. The 360-degree main concourse provides an unobstructed view of the ice and allows fans to circulate throughout the bowl without ever losing sight of the action on the ice.

The suite and club level of Martire Family Arena offers a gaming experience perfect for hosting events, receptions and corporate outings. The premium, elevated seating features two club rooms, the Presidents Suite and three luxury suites, all with ice views.

The elevated suites are wrapped in wood and their interlocking shapes look like hockey sticks floating in the air and stacked on top of each other. This unique feature gives the interior of the arena a creative, sleek and sharp appearance.

There is also a Pro Shop where fans can purchase their favorite SHU gear during games.

Key features for training and coaching

Martire Family Arena is equipped with all the tools SHU athletes need to be successful. When it comes to training, some key features of Martire Family Arena are:

• World-class strength and conditioning suites designed at a level consistent with the NHL.

• Beautiful changing rooms and player lounges.

• Rapid Shot Puck area for off-ice training.

• Extensive areas for athletic training and sports medicine.

• Hydrotherapy suites with hot and cold plunge pools, as well as an underwater treadmill.

• Therapeutic laser, blood flow restriction and shockwave therapy units.

• Team film rooms and meeting rooms.

• Pro-motion training harness.

• 30 meters of grass field for quick work and warm-ups.

The facility features several coaching suites designed for meetings, visits and office space. The coaching suites are elevated above the concourse, offering exceptional 180-degree panoramic views of the seating bowl and the ice below.

Great views both inside and outside
A smart floor-to-ceiling glass wall system surrounds three sides of the arena. The system allows natural light into the rink, creating fantastic views of the Fairfield countryside, while maintaining ideal ice conditions.

You don't have to worry about sun glare on the ice because the technologically advanced glass has an electrically switchable opacity. At the touch of a button, the glass can change from clear, allowing views in and out of the arena, to a white, snow-like, opaque appearance, which provides more privacy in the arena. This is a unique feature that not many college hockey venues can boast.

Martire family legacy

Martire Family Arena is named after Frank Martire, a 1969 graduate of Sacred Heart. Frank is currently chairman of NCR Corporation and co-founder of Treba Acquisition Corporation. Frank and his wife Marisa have an equity interest in the National Hockey League's Vegas Golden Knights. The Martire family provided the main gift for the project.

Sources:

You can learn more about Martire Family Arena on the arena's website, JLG Architects' website and through Sacred Heart University.

Martire Family Arena website:https://martirefamilyarena.com/

JLG Architects:https://jlgarchitects.com/projects/sacred-heart-university-ice-arena/

Sacred Heart University:https://www.sacredheart.edu/sacred-heart-life/fitness-recreation–sports/martire-family-arena/

JLG Architects is the nation's architect of choice for college and university sports programs that strive for championship winning, elite athletes and year-round revenue opportunities. JLG offers a full spectrum of services, from campus master planning and environmental brand building to architectural design for multi-use community, collegiate and progressive sports and recreation facilities. Home to the only Certified Ice Rink Manager/Certified Ice Technician Architect in the entire country, a robust roster of award-winning arena designers and an elite multi-function event center and operations team. JLG breaks the ice for unparalleled design that enhances campus and community pride.