Community Facility Ripped Apart By Storm
Veterans Memorial Ice Arena in Ann Arbor will remain closed for the 2026-27 season after tornado damage in April proved too extensive to reopen the facility this year.
The City of Ann Arbor announced earlier this week that the April tornado ripped a wall off the arena and caused damage throughout Veterans Memorial Park. This same storm caused damage to nearby Yost Ice Arena on the University of Michigan campus as well.
We understand how deeply this impacts the many renters, skaters, hockey players, families and community members who rely on Veterans Memorial Ice Arena each year. This facility has been an important gathering place for generations, and we recognize the disappointment and disruption this closure creates for our community.
Josh Landefeld, Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation manager, said the impact on those who use the arena each year is profound.
Photos of the damaged arena show a completely destroyed side wall of the building. The damage revealed bleachers and scoreboards inside the facility. The interior of the building is now fully exposed to the elements. City officials constructed a wall or fence to keep people away from the damage. Debris is still present at the site.
City officials have not released a timeline for Veterans Memorial Ice Arena renovations. The surrounding park will open for public use later in May. The playground, some ballfields and the skatepark will be available to residents.
Even prior to the April storm, the ice arena had ended its 2025-26 season early due to mechanical issues that also impacted the next-door swimming pool.