Gene Polisseni Center

The Gene Polisseni Center (colloquially known as the Polisseum or by its initials, the GPC) is an ice arena on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus in Henrietta, New York. Ground was broken for the project on October 19, 2012,[2] and the arena was officially dedicated on September 18, 2014.[5]

Gene Polisseni Center
Gene Polisseni Center during an RIT hockey game
Location200 Lomb Memorial Drive
Henrietta, New York 14623
Coordinates43°4′57.26″N 77°40′28.56″W
OwnerRochester Institute of Technology
OperatorRochester Institute of Technology
CapacityIce Hockey: 4,300[1] Concerts: 5,980
Field size200x85ft[2]
SurfaceIce
Construction
Broke groundOctober 19, 2012 [3]
OpenedSeptember 18, 2014[2]
Construction cost$38 million USD[2]
ArchitectBBB Architects[4]
Main contractorsLeChase Construction Services, LLC[2]
Tenants
RIT Tigers (men)
RIT Tigers (women)
2014–Present
2014–Present
Website
http://www.rit.edu/fa/arenas

The arena is the home of the varsity ice hockey teams at RIT, replacing the Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena. Ritter Arena continues to be used as an ice arena.[6] The Polisseni Center serves primarily as a hockey arena (for RIT varsity hockey and local youth programs), and it will also be a multi-purpose venue.[6] The Polisseni Center is built not far from Ritter Arena on the RIT campus, south of the Student Alumni Union, replacing portions of parking lot U.[7]

Fundraising efforts

Fundraising was started with a $1 million USD donation from Stephen and Vicki Schultz.[8] Naming rights were given based on a $4.5 million donation from the Polisseni Foundation (with backing from B. Thomas Golisano)[9] and were announced on November 11, 2011 during the men's hockey game against Air Force.[10]

With arena construction being an estimated $30 million, the funding of the project has been divided into two components. The first half will be borrowed against RIT's endowment fund (worth $544 million),[11] and paid back with sponsorship and ticket sales. The second half of the cost is a grassroots fundraising effort called the Tiger Power Play. The Tiger Power Play is an effort to bring in both big name donations (like Tom Golisano) as well as garner support from students and alumni. Small donations could be made by cell phone text message. Larger donations have been working directly with school administration. Sales of nameplates for seats is also available, initially costing $1,000 per nameplate, and later reduced to $500.[12]

J. M. Allain, CEO of Trans-Lux and an RIT graduate, donated $1 million for a new video scoreboard.[2]

References
  1. "About the Gene Polisseni Center"
  2. Mandelaro, Jim (October 19, 2012). "RIT ready to begin construction of $37 million hockey arena". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. pp. 1A, 4A. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  3. "Groundbreaking for RIT's Polisseni Center slated for Oct. 19"
  4. "RIT Selects Architect for Gene Polisseni Center"
  5. "Gene Polisseni Center opens with a roar"
  6. Ice Hockey Arena FAQs
  7. "RIT Selects Official Site for New Arena"
  8. "From out of the 'Corner' and into the spotlight"
  9. "Future RIT Hockey Arena to become the Gene Polisseni Center"
  10. Naming Announcement Ceremony
  11. As of June 30, 2009."U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  12. Take a Seat in the Gene Polisseni Center
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