FRESNO, CA -- After spending the last five seasons at Gateway Ice Center, the Fresno Monsters have announced they will be returning to Downtown Fresno and to familiar home ice.
The Fresno Monsters along with the City of Fresno and SMG Management announced today that the team will be moving back into Selland Arena for 21 of their 23 home games of the 2018-19’ regular season.
"With Selland Arena we once again have the ability to bring back that exciting atmosphere, the flexibility to create special promotions, and the opportunity to promote hockey to a larger audience here in the Central Valley” said Head Coach/GM Kevin Kaminski.
Selland Arena holds a nostalgia factor for many in the Central Valley as the arena was once home to the Fresno Falcons from 1968 to 2003 and for a brief period in 2008 after the Falcons returned to downtown following five seasons at Save Mart Center. The Monsters also called Selland home from 2009 to 2013.
Located at 700 M Street, near Chukchansi Park, Selland Arena opened in 1966 and is currently owned by the City of Fresno. In 2006, the arena underwent a $15 million renovation, that included the installation of new seats, a new video replay scoreboard, message boards and a new ice-cooling system specifically for hockey games. The arena currently has a capacity for hockey near 7,600, making it the largest home venue for a current team in the Western States Hockey League.
"It is truly great for the Monsters and the Western States Hockey League to be returning to play in Selland Arena. It's reminiscent of the first season of the Fresno Monsters and the great crowds that came to watch the Monsters and other WSHL opposing teams compete" said WSHL President/Commissioner Ron White.
The change in venue for the Monsters came after a set of three home games played at the arena this past February proved that hockey could once again be a viable source of income to the City of Fresno and help revitalize the surrounding downtown area.
The last two games of the season will be played at the Monsters practice facility Gateway Ice Center due to scheduling conflicts.
The Monsters have also announced today that Season Tickets are now available for purchase for the 2018-19’ season. The team announced they will be offering five (5) different seating options at Selland Arena and season tickets will start at $11 per game.
To purchase season tickets please call the Monsters front office at 559-549-4849 or email info@fresnomonsters.com
Single game ticket sales will be announced at a later date.