Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/745428
HUNDREDS OF FANS POUR INTO THE ARENA and take their seats. Many are scanning the large crowds —many are waiting in concessions lines hoping to grab a hot chocolate before the ice resurfacer finishes the ice. Spectators gladly welcome back the hockey season, but any rink manager knows it has been weeks, even months, in the making. Just ask Jody Hodgson. The General Manager of Ralph Engelstad Arena, Hodgson helps orchestrate more than 120 events every year in one of the most pristine hockey rinks in the nation. Hodgson has nearly two decades of experience in facilities management and he's no stranger to varying magnitudes of crowds and event settings. In fact, hockey weekends keep him busy all year long. Preparation for puck drop doesn't take a backseat on hot summer days. That's when Hodgson needs to set the wheels in motion. "We really never stop," Hodgson said. "It's kind of a perpetual cycle." Like Hodgson, any arena manager knows the groundwork never stops. But when large crowds come into play, it can be tricky to compose a plan that will to facilitate the needs of an event on a large scale. Back to the basics Before making too many decisions, it's essential to understand who will be walking through the doors of the rink. An event that's going to draw young children and families could yield a Prepare your facility for the influx of people this season , Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D., average more than 11,000 patrons each hockey game. STARRINKS.COM NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2016 / 21