Cheel Arena: New York
Cheel Arena
Location Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY
Broke ground June 15, 1990
Opened October 26, 1991
Owner Clarkson University
Operator Clarkson University
Surface 200×85 ft (hockey)
Architect Daniel F. Tully Associates, Boston
Tenants
Clarkson University Golden Knights
(men’s and women’s hockey)
Seats
3,100 (hockey)
Cheel Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Potsdam, New York. Cheel Arena was opened in on October 26th, 1991, and is named after Helen Snell Cheel, a long-time benefactor of Clarkson University, who provided a major gift towards the project.
It is home to the Clarkson University Golden Knights Men’s and Women’s hockey programs, which play at the NCAA Division I level. Ice is maintained throughout a large portion of the year for campus and community usage ranging from intramural hockey and broomball and Section IX High School Championships. When the ice is removed, the facility is used for Clarkson’s graduation and other local events.
Cheel Arena typically hosts a concert every April featuring several music and comedy acts.
The attendance record of 4,125 was set on January 18th, 2003 against arch-rival St. Lawrence University, although many consider it to be un-official due to the large number of empty seats at the game. The previous record was 4,115 set against the same team the previous year.
Students are admitted to regular season games free of charge.
The arena is located within Cheel Campus Center which is the student center for Clarkson. The center contains eateries, the student post office, and Club 99. It replaced Walker Arena, the 1,800 seat home of Clarkson since 1938.