About Our Facility
Compton Family Ice Arena

Nov. 8, 2011

Opened in October 2011, the Compton Family Ice Arena anchors the south edge of campus, adjacent to the Joyce Center and west of the Irish track and field facility. The state-of-the-art arena houses two ice rinks and was designed to support the Notre Dame hockey programs and those in the local community. The facility was made possible by a generous lead gift from Kevin and Gayla Compton, who also own the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

With its eye-catching, barrel-vaulted roof and bow trusses, the main arena has two levels with a capacity of 5,000 - both seated and standing room combined--with the majority of the seats a comfortable, chair-back style.

The student section and hockey band seating are located on the west end of both levels. O'Brien's, the exclusive club for Fighting Irish Hockey games, is located on the upper level, as well as general admission seating and the media center. Open concourses on both levels provide ample standing room. The Charles W. "Lefty" Smith Jr. Rink, the NHL-size playing surface of the main arena, honors the first coach in the Notre Dame hockey program. The Olympic-size rink can be divided into two smaller rinks to be used by the Irish Youth Hockey League (IYHL), the USA Hockey Athlete Development Model (ADM), figure skating, public skating, and intramural broomball. The building also houses numerous offices, locker rooms, and training facilities.

CFIA Building Facts

Download this fact sheet as PDF

Building Overview

Architect: Rossetti (Southfield, Michigan)

General Contractor: Barton Malow

Cost: $50 million

Total Area: 212,000 sq. ft.

"Lefty" Smith Rink

Total Capacity: 5,022

Seating: 4,500 including 1,100 student seats divided among the 2 levels

O'Brien's: 250 seat premium club area

Concessions: 4 stands on main concourse

Restrooms: 8 public restrooms with parity for women and men

Playing Surface: 200' x 90'

Scoreboard: 15' x 15' Daktronics 4-sided center hung scoreboard with 8'4" x 13'6" 10mm video displays with integrated auxiliary displays and fascia boards

Locker Rooms: 5 visitors/auxillary locker rooms with restrooms and showers. 1 officials' locker room with restroom and shower

Media Center: 36-seat working press area, 2 coaches booths, 2 radio booths, 1 TV broadcast booth, 1 video replay booth, 1 control room, multiple TV camera locations cabled throughout

ADA Access & Seating: 1.5% of total seating capacity is enhanced easy access seating