Carlson Center
Tenants


Location	2010 Second Avenue Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Coordinates	64°50′32.08″N 147°45′50.69″W / 64.8422444°N 147.7640806°W / 64.8422444; -147.7640806
Owner	Fairbanks North Star Borough
Operator	FNSB
Capacity	4,595 (permanent seats) 5,703 (expanded for basketball) 6,539 (with added floor seats)
Surface	200' x 100' (hockey)
Opened	June 13, 1990
Alaska Nanooks (NCAA) (1990–present) Fairbanks Grizzlies (Intense/IFL) (2008–2011)

The Carlson Center is a 4,595-seat multi-purpose arena in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. It is the third largest arena in Alaska by seating capacity after the Sullivan Arena and Alaska Airlines Center, both of which are in Anchorage. It is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks ice hockey team and also serves as the site for the university's commencement exercises as well as graduation ceremonies for Lathrop,^[1] West Valley,^[2] and North Pole^[3] High Schools. The building served as the site for the Top Of The World preseason college basketball tournament until its demise in 2007. Opening in 1990, the venue is named after John A. Carlson (1920-1988), who served as Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor from 1968 to 1982.

The facility is located on the banks of the Chena River near Growden Memorial Park. It is owned by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and managed by Terrell Echols of Fairbanks North Star Borough.^[4]

History

The Carlson Center opened on June 13, 1990. It serves as Interior Alaska's largest event facility and only facility in the Interior with tradeshow decorating capabilities. It is host to many events ranging from concerts and tradeshows to small meetings, conventions, and receptions. The Carlson Center also has its own catering department. The World Eskimo Indian Olympics have been held at the Center since 2008.

Past events held at the Carlson Center have included David Copperfield, Lord of the Dance, Larry the Cable Guy, Godsmack, Toby Keith, the Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live, Trace Adkins, Elton John and Cheech & Chong among others.

In February 2020 the Carlson Center gained international attention by hosting the first ever Alaska ComiCon, featuring guests such as the original Red Power Ranger Austin St. John, Voice Actor Grey Delisle, WWE Hall-Of-Famer Rikishi, Archie Comics artist Dan Parent, and academic experts Dr. Herb Fondevilla from Japan and Dr. N. Scott Robinson from San Diego.

References

External links

Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey

Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey
Formerly the Alaska Agricultural College Nanooks and Alaska–Fairbanks Nanooks
Playing venues	Carlson Center (1990–present)
Head coaches	Alfred Bastress (1935–1939) Joe Gerlach (1940–1941) Jim Welsch (1949–1950) Coach Urick (1950–1951) Coach Gilhooley (1953–1954) Chris Christensen (1954–1955) Ken Smith (1956–1957) Bill Borland (1957–1958) Bill Daltri (1960–1963) Larry Bidlake (1963–1964) Jack Peterson (1964–1965) Ed Armstrong (1965–1966) Jim Perry (1967–1969) Fred Stevenson (1969–1971) Gary Weitz (1971–1972) Ray Korkiala (1972–1973) Bob Gaddis (1973–1974) Tim Homan (1977–1978) Ric Schafer (1980–1987) Don Lucia (1987–1993) Dave Laurion (1993–1999) Guy Gadowsky (1999–2004) Tavis MacMillan (2004–2007) Doc DelCastillo (2007–2008) Dallas Ferguson (2008–2017) Lance West (2017–2018) Erik Largen (2018–present)
Seasons	1925–26 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1950–51 1953–54 1954–55 1956–57 1957–58 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1977–78 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 ~~2020–21~~ 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Conference affiliations	Great West (1985–1988) CCHA (1995–2013) WCHA (2013–2021)
Rivalries	Alaska Anchorage Seawolves
NCAA Tournament appearances	2010 (vacated)
University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK

University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Located in: Fairbanks, Alaska
Academics	Colleges: UAF Community and Technical College Other: Native Art Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Institute of Arctic Biology Geophysical Institute Center for Distance Education
Athletics	Alaska Nanooks Men's hockey Carlson Center Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Campus	Troth Yeddha' University of Alaska Museum of the North University of Alaska Press Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center
Life	KSUA KUAC (FM) KUAC-TV The Sun Star Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center Constitution Hall
Founded: 1917

NCAA Division I ice hockey independents

NCAA Division I ice hockey independents
Men's Teams (arenas)	Alaska (Carlson Center) Alaska–Anchorage (Avis Alaska Sports Complex) Arizona State (Mullett Arena) – joining NCHC in 2024 Lindenwood (Centene Community Ice Center) Long Island (Northwell Health Ice Center) Stonehill (Bridgewater Ice Arena)
Seasons	1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 2005–06 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
NCAA