A proposed $70 million Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame and museum cleared a key step in the approval process in early February. The Inver Grove Heights Planning Commission recommended rezoning the site from “office” to “mixed-use,” paving the way for development. The request is now moving to the City Council.

The 120,000-square-foot facility is planned for a 40-plus-acre site near Viking Lakes. Plans call for a 30,000-square-foot museum with a “Great Hall” and exhibit wings, a 20,000-square-foot performance venue, an ice rink, a restaurant, and multiple event spaces. Developers estimate up to 420,000 visitors annually.

The capital stack includes $22 million in public funding, including city infrastructure support. The city is purchasing the land for approximately $8.7 million and is expected to complete site and public improvements. Additional funding sources include private lending, developer equity, sponsorships, and philanthropic support.

Organizers are targeting a 2026 construction start and a 2028 opening, with city officials positioning the project as a catalyst for surrounding mixed-use growth and higher value taxable development.

Sources: City of Inver Grove Heights (https://ighmn.gov/1585/Minnesota-Hockey-Hall-of-Fame) & Finance & Commerce (https://finance-commerce.com/2026/02/minnesota-hockey-hall-of-fame-inver-grove-heights-plan/)