If you’ve ever found yourself driving through Wasilla, Alaska, during the dark, freezing heart of January, you know that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't usually the sun. It’s the glowing sign of the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center. Locals just call it "The Menard," and honestly, it’s basically the living room of the Mat-Su Valley. It’s where toddlers learn to wobble on skates and where high school rivalries turn into legends under the hum of the arena lights.
But here’s the thing: most people outside of Alaska only know this place because of a certain former governor and a reality TV-esque political saga from the early 2000s. There’s a lot of noise about how it was built, but if you actually step inside, the politics melt away. You’re left with a 102,000-square-foot beast of a facility that keeps a community sane when the mercury hits -20°F.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Menard Center
A lot of folks think this is just a hockey rink. It isn’t.
Sure, the NHL-size ice arena is the crown jewel, but the facility is a weird, wonderful hybrid. It’s got an indoor artificial turf court—the MTA Turf Arena—that covers about 19,000 square feet. On any given Tuesday, you might see a senior walking group on the elevated track while a toddler soccer game is erupting on the turf below, all while a figure skater is practicing triple lutzes in the next room.
It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s perfect.
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The building itself was originally the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex. It was renamed in 2009 to honor Curtis D. Menard, a local dentist, state legislator, and borough mayor who was essentially a folk hero in these parts. The guy lost his dominant arm in an accident and just... learned to practice dentistry with his left hand. That kind of "grit-your-teeth-and-do-it" energy is baked into the walls here.
The Sarah Palin Connection: The Drama You Forgot
You can't talk about the Curtis D. Menard Sports Center without mentioning Sarah Palin. Back when she was the Mayor of Wasilla, she championed the $14.7 million project. It was her "baby," but it wasn't exactly a smooth birth.
Residents actually voted in a special referendum in 2002 to hike the sales tax by 0.5% just to fund it. The vote was razor-thin: 51.7% in favor. Think about that. Nearly half the town didn't want it. Then there was the whole eminent domain mess with a local landowner named Gary Lundgren. The city actually started building on the land before they technically, fully owned it.
Parks and Recreation fans might find this familiar. Michael Schur, the show's co-creator, once admitted that Palin’s sports complex drama partially inspired the "Ice Town" backstory for the character Ben Wyatt. Life imitating art, or vice versa? Either way, the "deficit-running" headlines of 2008 have mostly been replaced by the sound of skate blades on fresh zamboni-ed ice.
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Inside the Facility: More Than Just Ice
If you’re planning a visit or just wondering why the parking lot is always packed, here is the actual breakdown of what’s inside. No fluff, just the specs.
The MTA Turf Arena
This is where the "Multi-Use" part of the name really earns its keep. It’s 184 feet by 85 feet of artificial green.
- Turf for Tots: This is a lifesaver for parents. From October through March, they let kids 6 and under run wild for about $4. It beats staying inside a cramped house for six months.
- Batting Cages: They’ve got a setup with a pitching machine. It’s one of the few places in the Valley where you can actually take a swing in February without your hands vibrating from the cold.
- Divisibility: They can drop curtains to split the turf into three sections, meaning you can have a birthday party, a soccer practice, and a dry-land hockey drill happening simultaneously.
The Ice Rink
This is the heart of the Mat-Su hockey scene. It’s home to the Alaska Jr. Avalanche and host to various ASAA State Championships. If you want to skate, it's roughly $8 for a public session, and you can rent "bobbies" (those little plastic stabilizers) for the kids.
The Running Track
The track is elevated, overlooking the turf. It’s free for seniors (65+) during early morning hours (7:30 am to 9:00 am). For everyone else, it’s a cheap way to get your steps in when the sidewalks are literal sheets of ice. It’s roughly 1/8th of a mile per lap.
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The Christmas Friendship Dinner
One of the most "Alaska" things that happens at the Curtis D. Menard Sports Center isn't a sport at all. It’s the Christmas Friendship Dinner.
This thing started in 1991 with six turkeys and 67 guests. Now? It serves upwards of 4,000 people. It’s a massive community effort where local businesses and hundreds of volunteers turn the sports center into a giant dining hall. They give out gift bags to kids and seniors, and it doesn't matter if you're a CEO or someone struggling to keep the heat on—everyone sits at the same tables. In a world that feels increasingly divided, this event is a reminder of what the Menard was actually built for: community.
Practical Advice for Newcomers
If you're heading to the Menard for the first time, don't just wing it.
- Check the Schedule: The City of Wasilla updates the facility schedule hourly on their website. Do not—I repeat, do not—show up for public skating without checking. You will likely walk into a high-intensity hockey practice instead.
- Dress in Layers: The turf area is heated, but the ice arena is, well, an ice arena. It’s chilly.
- The Walking Trail: In the summer, there’s a one-mile paved loop around the perimeter of the 60-acre wooded property. It’s beautiful and often overlooked.
- Booking Rooms: If you’re trying to host a meeting or a party, they have three community rooms. They’re surprisingly affordable (around $45/hour), but they book up months in advance for the winter season.
Why It Still Matters
The Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center isn't just a building; it’s a solution to the "Alaskan Cabin Fever" problem. It’s a place where kids learn the value of a hard check on the boards and where the elderly keep their hearts healthy on the track.
Despite the early controversy and the political shadows, it has become the pulse of Wasilla. It’s proof that sometimes, a risky investment in "fun" is actually an investment in the social fabric of a town.
Next Steps for You:
If you are in the Mat-Su area, download the current facility schedule from the City of Wasilla's official portal to see the open-use hours for the turf and ice. If you're a senior, take advantage of the free walking hours between 7:30 am and 9:00 am on weekdays to beat the mid-day rush. For those looking to give back, mark your calendar for November to sign up as a volunteer for the Christmas Friendship Dinner.