Vail’s Dobson Arena remodel will be the town’s most expensive project so far, but a maximum price hasn’t been finalized
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The Vail Town Council on Tuesday approved an initial $366,225 for the remodel of Dobson Ice Arena, which could begin as early as April.
While a final maximum price has not yet been determined on the project, which will be the town’s costliest capital project in its history, that number should be coming soon. The council is tentatively scheduled to approve that maximum price on April 15.
The council on Tuesday got a look at the latest price projections. The town’s representative on the project, Chris Knight from Cumming Management, said the project is currently within the town’s targeted budget of $55,400,000.
For that cost, the town is expected to receive a building with a new roof, more bathrooms, more locker rooms, new entryways to the west and south, a concert-rigging input provided by AEG, and, of course, an increase in maximum capacity to 1,400 people for hockey games and 3,500 for shows.
There are a few enhancements that have not been included, mainly involving additional audio/visual capabilities, Knight said.
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“We have an RFP going out soliciting potential capital enhancement funds. I think we’d like to see where we come back with those numbers and then re-evaluate these enhancements,” Knight said. “If we have available funds, we’ll put them to the items that will have the biggest impact, i.e. a video screen, new scoreboards, those are probably two of the last major enhancements that we’re investigating.”
Keeping the project costs from ballooning has been a challenge for the town, which is why it hired Knight. A year ago, in March of 2024, the town was looking at a $76 million estimated cost on the project. General Contractor Hyder/McHugh was hired, and updated project options were presented in June. The design team, at that time, was approved to move into the design and development phase of the project, with a potential budget of $55 million.
The project received approval from the Vail Design Review Board in November. In February, the project was submitted to the town’s Community Development Department for building permit review.
The Vail Yeti hockey team will enjoy its final two weekends of home games this weekend and next, hosting the Austin Ramblers on Friday and Saturday and the Scottsdale Desert Dogs March 14-15.
The final event scheduled on the Dobson calendar is the Vail First Responders charity hockey game on March 28.
Assuming the maximum price is approved on April 15, construction is expected to start shortly thereafter.
“Right now, the contractor is out with the construction drawings getting final pricing,” Greg Hall with Vail Public Works said on Tuesday.
