MUSKEGON, Michigan (September 3rd) – As the new leadership team for the L.C. Walker Arena and Event Center embarks upon the vision of creating a year-round sports and entertainment complex in the heart of Muskegon, much like the weather this summer, they have experienced some great days along with some disappointing ones.

The lakeshore’s premiere indoor destination just wrapped up a great week in hosting USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Camp, where over 100 hockey executives, supervisors, and officials spent up to eight days in downtown Muskegon.  The country’s elite full-time amateur officials, along with the program’s top supervisors and executives, skated at the arena; taught in the Annex; stayed at the Holiday Inn-Muskegon Harbor; enjoyed great food from local restaurants; and celebrated a terrific camp at The Deck at Pier Marquette Beach this past Thursday evening.  The building, Annex, and town were described to the staff as a “perfect fit for their needs,” which was indicated by Vice President of Business Development Rob Murphy.

Additionally, the L.C. Walker Arena and Event Center hosted a Detroit Red Wings Youth Camp with 125 youth hockey players; served as the proud host for the Reeths-Puffer West Coast Shootout; served as a training center for local high school-aged hockey players; and had dozens of youth skaters enjoy “Sticks and Pucks” in an arena that is normally shutdown for over three months out of the year.

“The economics of mid-sized (capacity 4,700) ice arenas, especially 54-year-old ones, make it incredibly challenging to function given the significant operating, repair, and maintenance costs,” shared Rob Murphy.  “Therefore, like nearly every other “seasonal” business, it is imperative that we both maximize our revenues during our core operating months (September–April) and evolve our model to capture new revenues through programming and products with new and different customer groups during the spring and summer.”

 “We also took some shots this past year to make our building available to MMA companies and music promoters that, in a couple of cases, simply did not materialize,” indicated Murphy. 

With that said, Murphy remains optimistic that if some other pieces of the Muskegon puzzle fall into place, the L.C. Walker Arena and Event Center will continue to expand its youth hockey model through more teams, adult hockey, tournaments, camps, clinics, training camps, and of course, special events, “To date, we are very encouraged with the sales of the Newsboys tickets, which happens on November 8th, and are working hard to bring more family friendly offerings to downtown Muskegon on a year-round basis.”

This season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks return to the L.C. Walker Arena and Event Center for their Fifth Anniversary Season in the United States Hockey League, the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league.  To kick off the 2014-15 season, the arena is hosting a preseason game for the first time since the organization joined the USHL on Saturday, September 13th at 7:15 pm against the Bloomington Thunder with general admission tickets on sale for just $5.  Two weeks later, the Lumberjacks’ Home Opener takes center stage on Saturday, September 27th at 7:15 pm against the Madison Capitols.  Season tickets for all 29 home dates remain on sale and start as low as $195.

The L.C. Walker Arena and Event Center, dedicated in October of 1960, is the Home of the United States Hockey League’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, the Muskegon Junior Jacks Youth Hockey program, and numerous special events including concerts, graduations, and the annual Shrine Circus.  For additional information, please visit www.lcwalkerarena.com.