MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame (MNHHOF) today announced the launch of a landmark legacy project honoring the athletes, coaches, officials, teams and contributors who have shaped the state’s unmatched hockey tradition.
Led by Chief Executive Officer Natalie Darwitz—three-time U.S. Olympian and Hockey Hall of Fame member—the Hall will serve as both a permanent tribute to Minnesota’s deep hockey roots and a dynamic hub for community connection, education and inspiration.
“Minnesota has an unrivaled amount of success and passion when it comes to hockey. This project will finally give our game the permanent home it deserves,” said Darwitz. “We’re celebrating the full journey of hockey in our state, from kids just learning the game to legends at the highest level. Every community in our state has a story worth telling.”
The MNHHOF, an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is backed by a diverse Advisory Board of some of Minnesota’s most celebrated hockey figures, an Ambassador Program featuring more than 100 men and women who have made a lasting impact on the game in Minnesota, and foundational support from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
“The Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame is an important legacy project that will celebrate and preserve the state’s rich hockey history for generations to come,” said Jamie Dinsmore, President and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame. “We’re excited to support their launch and look forward to seeing this vision come to life as a place where the stories, achievements, and people who shaped Minnesota hockey are honored.”
The MNHHOF will be more than a museum. The space will operate as a 120,000+ square-foot interactive destination. Plans include a 30,000-square-foot museum with a Great Hall and five exhibit wings, a state-of-the-art sunken ice rink, a 20,000-square-foot performance hall, a hockey-themed restaurant and bar, and signature event spaces.
Cutting-edge technology will immerse fans in the game through 360-degree digital experiences and hands-on exhibits where visitors can skate, shoot and relive historic moments.
Beyond preserving history, the Hall will focus on growing the game through grassroots development programs, traveling exhibits, youth education initiatives and an Ambassador Program projected to feature 250+ Minnesota-born or developed individuals over the next 12-months.
“This project is long overdue, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting announcement,” said hockey legend Lou Nanne. “In my decades-long career in the game of hockey, I think I will know nearly every single individual who will be honored here. It’s an incredible way to recognize the people and stories that make Minnesota hockey so unique and deserving of this kind of permanent home.”
The MNHHOF plans to break ground in June 2026 with a grand opening in May 2028, positioning it as a premier tourism and cultural destination in the Twin Cities and beyond.
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