Vail unveils renovated Dobson Arena after $55 million upgrade
The facility, formerly known as Dobson Rink, now features overnight ice conversion and will host a welcome back concert on November 28.
By Diego Mendoza ·
Residents of Vail can access a newly renovated ice and event venue as the city completed a major upgrade to its local sports facility. The project transformed the former Dobson Rink into the Dobson Arena, a space designed to host both professional hockey games and live musical performances.
The Vail Recreation District confirmed that the $55 million renovation project was completed ahead of schedule and came in under budget. The work, which took approximately two years, focused on upgrading lighting and guest amenities while installing a system that allows the ice surface to convert to dry land overnight.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place last week to officially rename the facility. The venue will open its doors to the public with a welcome back concert scheduled for November 28. The event lineup includes bluegrass folk bands Trampled By Turtles and Old Crow Medicine Show, along with singer-songwriter Lindsay Lou.
In related arts news, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival has secured a third consecutive Grand Pinnacle award from the International Festivals and Events Association. The festival won its category in the annual competition, outpacing the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Vivid Sydney festival.
Tara Brickell, executive director of CherryArts, attributed the victory to the collective efforts of staff, volunteers, artists, and sponsors who support the annual July event. The festival continues to use its proceeds to fund arts education programs across the state throughout the year.
Icelandic singer Laufey is also expanding her work in the literary space through a new book club initiative. The project, which aims to promote literacy, selects a different book from various genres each month and hosts online discussions via the platform Discord. Laufey was named honorary chair of Library Card Sign Up Month by the American Library Association in September.
In April 2026, Laufey released a children's picture book titled Mei Mei the Bunny, illustrated by Lauren O'Hara. The story follows a curious bunny with long ears for music and a strong nose for adventure, aligning with the singer's broader efforts to support youth music programs globally.
