Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 28, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 45 35th Anniversary WBJ Worcester ~ Needham ~ Orleans 800-649-1553 www.sullivangroup.com We con nue to build our team to ensure our long-las ng rela onships with our clients and the community. We look forward to working together with you in the future. from 2006 to 2015, while the ECHL Worcester Railers have made the DCU Center home since 2017. "Minor league hockey showed it could exist and thrive. Now over 20 years in Worcester, it's made a difference on our calendar," she said. More space made a difference, as well. Construction was completed in 1997 on a convention center with 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. is meant that lawn-and- garden-type shows could now move from the arena and into the convention center, which freed up the arena for other shows, said Dunn. "We used to have to say no to certain consumer and trade shows as we could not accommodate. When the convention center was built, it created new business for the city and economic spinoff where folks could eat, stay, come in early and go to the attraction," Dunn said. e city will be putting out a bid to replace the arena sound system. e last upgrade was about 30 years ago, Dunn said. All the arena seats were replaced in 2023 for $7 million, the third seat replacement project since the arena was constructed. Not keeping opportunities on ice Hockey has been advantageous to the Top 10 Tourist Aractions 2023 attendance figures More than 4.8 million visitors passed through the doors of the region's 10 most popular 2023 destinations. • New England Sports Center, 1,000,000 • Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 900,000 • Great Wolf Lodge New England, 700,000 • Worcester Red Sox (Polar Park), 519,651 • DCU Center, 485,357 • Southwick's Zoo, 450,000 • New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 224,279 • Old Sturbridge Village, 200,000 • Discovery Museum, 193,965 • Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 180,000 Source: WBJ 2024 Book of Lists; individual attractions via survey or websites DCU Center, and it's a game New England Sports Center founder Larue Renfroe calls "addictive," having coached it for more than 40 years. Renfroe also served as general contractor for NESC's construction in 1994. e center began with four rinks for program teams, Renfroe said. "e facility helped to promote the game of hockey. It was just a 501(c) then, but we wanted to make money. To make money, you have to have ice." Tournaments continued, but it became harder and harder to get ice time, Renfroe said. "e business grew, and we had to add rink aer rink, including smaller rinks for goalie training – all in response to demand." With a total of 10 rinks, including those added in 2004, 2010 and 2017, the center is the largest venue for hockey, figure skating, and public skating in North America. It has eight full-size rinks, one small, and one studio rink. A pro shop, two restaurants, and video arcade round out the offerings. NESC hosts more than 50 hockey events annually, from all over North America. It is home to learn-to-play programs; development programs; and the Minuteman Flames and Lady Flames Minor Hockey The Worcester IceCats began play in the fall of 1994 and called the DCU Center home through the 2004-05 season. Scratch was the IceCats' popular mascot. COURTESY DCU CENTER Continued on next page

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