The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, also known as the Brooks Center, is a 5,159-seat hockey arena in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is home to the St. Cloud State University Huskies men's & women's ice hockey teams, and the Saint John's University Johnnies ice hockey team. The main rink is named for the late university President Brendan J. McDonald, who advocated the team's move to Division I hockey. The arena consists of a lower and upper deck on the sides the ice. The west end (near the entrance) features a few seats, while east contains no seating.Although it is recorded as having a 5,159 seating capacity, Husky hockey games often draw crowds of more than 6,000. It is also a concert venue, with a capacity of up to 7,763. Graduation ceremonies have also been held at the arena.The Brooks Arena was once regarded, by a visiting team, as a difficult place to play in the WCHA and NCHC. The notorious "Dog Pound" (St. Cloud's Student Section) regularly attends games.In April 2013, the arena was renamed in honor of former St. Cloud State, University of Minnesota and U.S. Olympic coach Herb Brooks.In 2013, the National Hockey Center reopened after an extensive addition and renovation by JLG Architects which included a new atrium and entrance, west-end seating, expanded suites and club level seating, wider concourses, a new team store and improved training facilities.
