One of Minnesota’s iconic arenas is in the running for a facelift worth $150,000.

The Bloomington Ice Garden, home to the city’s Jefferson and Kennedy youth and high school hockey programs, has entered the final round of the Kraft Hockeyville competition after being voted through by fans of the sport, the players and the community.

The arena, known affectionately as BIG, has served the community for over 40 years.

“Bloomington Ice Garden was built in 1970 and hasn’t undergone any major renovations since that time,” Jefferson Association President Stephanie Cossette said via email. “So there is a real need to update several areas of the rink.”

One of the specific upgrades that Kennedy Association President Matt Walton would like to see is a space dedicated to off-ice instruction.

“A dedicated dry land training area available for our players to utilize for stick handling and shooting is needed,” Walton said. “There is no designated area to use and our players end up stick handling in the hallways (which is) against rink policy.”

The arena’s infamously narrow hallways are also a target of improvement according to Walton.

“Interior aesthetic improvements are also important,” Walton said. “Having better crowd flow and circulation through the rinks is (necessary).”

Bloomington faces another arena deemed an “Ice Garden” in Rostaver Ice Garden of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania.

What the Keystone state’s entrant may not have, however, is seven total high school state hockey championship banners from programs that have grown players that have gone on to win NCAA championships, a Hobey Baker Award and the Stanley Cup.

BIG was also the training home of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, they of the Miracle on Ice.

“Residents of Bloomington take pride in that history,” Cossette said. “Continuing this history at our hometown rink is very important to Bloomington residents.”

The effort between both the east and west sides of the city has brought cooperative community pride to a fever pitch according to Walton.

“Having BIG in the final four of the Kraft Hockeyville contest has amplified that pride,” Walton said, adding that the recent merger between the Kennedy and Richfield youth programs has only added to the fervor. “Couple that amplified pride with collaboration on getting out the vote for the Kraft Hockeyville contest, this is easily the most fired up the community has been for hockey in years.”

For the State of Hockey, it’s go BIG, because in this case, BIG is home.

Visit krafthockeyville.com for more information and to vote. Voting concludes on Tuesday at midnight.