Preparing for 2034: Renovations needed at Peaks Ice Arena for Olympic return
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- Peaks Ice Arena is pictured Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Provo.
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- Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins and Utah 2034 President Fraser Bullock speak to media following a meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Provo.
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- Peaks Ice Arena is pictured Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Provo.
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- Peaks Ice Arena is pictured Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Provo.
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- Peaks Ice Arena is pictured Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Provo.
Utah 2034 Winter Olympics leaders met with Provo and Utah County officials Monday afternoon as part of their statewide “listening tour” to address preparations for the Olympics in eight years.
Among the topics discussed were configurations needed at the Peaks Ice Arena in Provo to host ice hockey. As it was in 2002, the arena will be the only Olympic venue in Utah County.
According to Utah 2034 President Fraser Bullock, the ice rink will need to be adjusted from international-sized to NHL-sized to meet current Olympics regulations.
International hockey rinks are approximately 197 feet long and 98 feet wide, while NHL hockey rinks are 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, meaning the rink will have to be narrowed.
The narrowing of the rink, Bullock said, will open opportunities to reconfigure the locker rooms. Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins added that locker rooms will need to be expanded, and that the seating capacity could be temporarily adjusted to 10,000.
“We can put that (seating) in, but then it could also be removed,” Judkins said. “So it’s a temporary type of situation, it’s not going to cost as much money.”
Peaks Ice Arena was first built to host ice hockey at the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics. Construction started in 1997 and was completed in 1999.
The arena held a temporary capacity of 8,400 seats and hosted 24 games for men’s and women’s competition, including the women’s bronze medal match, which saw Sweden defeat Finland.
Provo City and Utah County took over ownership the arena from Seven Peaks Management Co. in 2008. It is currently operated by Provo parks and recreation, which offers skating and ice hockey opportunities to the public on the two ice sheets at the facility.
Since rehosting the Olympics became a possibility, the city has been planning on renovating the facility. Mayor Judkins confirmed the city is looking for $12 million in funding, with $10 million coming from outside sources.
Last year, the state approved $3 million towards renovation projects at the arena to prepare for the games in H.B. 3, which was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox last March.
Bullock said despite the games being eight years away, it’s important to “always stay ahead” in preparing the facility.
“Fortunately with Provo, it’s one of the great success stories of any ice sheet anywhere, being an Olympic venue, and then being a community venue,” he said. “And now we can take that great success and take it to the next level.”
