The Sanford Center is a 4,700-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectator ...

and

convention center A convention center (American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typica ...

Bemidji Bemidji ( ) is a city and the county seat of Beltrami County, Minnesota, Beltrami County, in northern Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,574 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. According to 2021 census estimates, the city ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

that opened in October 2010. On October 18, 2010, the venue was renamed from the Bemidji Regional Events Center to the Sanford Center after Sanford Health Systems purchased naming rights for $2 million over ten years. On Friday, October 15, 2010, the arena began hosting the home games of the

Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Bemidji State University. The Beavers are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Asso ...

and

Bemidji State Beavers women's ice hockey The Bemidji State Beavers are a women's college hockey team representing Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States. They play at the NCAA Division I level, and compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). His ...

teams of the

Western Collegiate Hockey Association The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is a college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a women's ice hockey-only conference. From 1951 to 1999, it operated a ...

, replacing the aging 2,400-seat John S. Glas Field House. Beginning with the 2014 season, the arena became home to the Bemidji Axemen of the

Indoor Football League The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams am ...

. The team was disbanded after the 2015 season.Axemen axed from IFL
/ref>

References

External links

Bemidji City Council advances events center designEvents center a ‘go’: Pawlenty’s veto pen spares Bemidji project
Arena football venues Bemidji State Beavers ice hockey Indoor arenas in Minnesota Sports venues in Minnesota Bemidji, Minnesota Buildings and structures in Beltrami County, Minnesota Tourist attractions in Beltrami County, Minnesota Indoor ice hockey venues in Minnesota {{Minnesota-sports-venue-stub