Alaska’s Carlson Center to get $3.5 million overhaul

The Carlson Center, home of the Alaska Nanooks, will undergo $3.5 million in renovations as part of the capital budget approved last week by Governor Sean Parnell.

“The approval of the funding for the ‘CCRP2’ project is very exciting for the community of Fairbanks,” Alaska head coach Dallas Ferguson said in a statement. “The Carlson Center is a major venue for community events and it is a facility that Fairbanks is very proud of. This project will provide some huge upgrades to the facility and make it one of the premier multipurpose facilities in the State of Alaska.”

The project includes the construction of new home and visiting locker rooms, a media room, training room, lounge, spin room, community locker rooms, equipment rooms and a multi purpose room for other event and facility needs.

While the Nanooks are the resident tenant, the Carlson Center plays host to several annual events such as the World Eskimo Indian Olympics and the Alaska Federation of Natives conference, as well as various concerts and trade shows. It is also home turf for the Fairbanks Grizzlies arena football team and the Fairbanks Roller Girls women’s roller derby team throughout the year.