The Block
Fairbanks' Next Sports & Entertainment Center
No new taxes. No general obligation debt. A 3,600-seat arena to replace the aging Carlson Center.
Vision
The Block is a proposed 3,600-seat multipurpose sports and entertainment center designed for a 50+ year lifespan in Interior Alaska's climate. Earth-sheltered, six levels, permanent NHL-regulation ice. It would be owned by a new nonprofit, the North Star Civic Authority, not by the developer.
This is a modern facility that converts between hockey, concerts, conventions, banquets, and trade shows, hosting far more types of events across far more days of the year. Concert capacity with floor seating reaches approximately 5,000.
Add a 90,000-square-foot publicly accessible rooftop park, permanent year-round ice, LEED Silver sustainability targets, and a building engineered to last half a century. A more versatile, more durable facility serving more people more often.
3,600
Seats
90,000
Sq ft rooftop park
50+
Year design lifespan
NHL
Regulation ice (year-round)
LEED Silver
Sustainability target
Visualizations
Why Now
The Carlson Center opened in 1990. After more than three decades, deferred maintenance is compounding and the Borough subsidizes operations from the general fund every year. That subsidy grows as the building deteriorates. Meanwhile, Fairbanks loses events, conventions, and touring acts to markets with modern facilities.
A full renovation would cost tens of millions with no guarantee of modern capability and no extension of the facility's useful life. A Borough-funded replacement would require new taxes or new debt. Neither option has gained traction.
The Block is a third path: a private partner commits its own capital and leads a philanthropic campaign. The community gets a new sports and entertainment center without the tax burden. The Borough will commission an Avoided Cost Study to document the true cost of maintaining or replacing Carlson, so this decision is made on real numbers, not assumptions.
Community
These aren't promises. They'll be written into a binding agreement, audited every year, and independently verified every three years.
30 civic days per year at cost
The Borough gets 30 days annually at cost-recovery rates (direct costs only, no markup) for community celebrations, public safety events, civic ceremonies, and Borough-sponsored programming.
Discounted access for youth, schools, nonprofits, and military
Reduced rates for K-12 schools, youth sports organizations, nonprofits, active-duty military, and veterans. Priority booking for youth tournaments. A minimum of 50 youth tournament or event days per year.
Year-round public ice
Permanent ice means UAF hockey has a modern home venue, community hockey leagues have consistent access, and public skating is available year-round, not just when the schedule allows.
Jobs with local hire commitments
An estimated 400 construction jobs and 100+ permanent positions, with local hire targets, workforce development coordination through UAF and trade unions, and an aspirational target of 30% of construction contract value to FNSB-based businesses. Carlson Center employees get priority consideration for Block positions.
Public art commitment
0.5% of hard construction costs dedicated to public art, with priority for Alaska and Indigenous artists.
Governance
The Block will be owned by the North Star Civic Authority (NSCA), a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit. DX/DT LLC (operating as North Star Grand Lodge) serves as the exclusive operator under a management agreement with performance standards, independent audits, and termination for cause.
Independent oversight
Every transaction between NSCA and NSGL requires approval by independent, disinterested directors with a fair-market-value opinion. No insider dealing.
Borough representation
One Borough-appointed board seat from the start of construction, growing to Borough plus two jointly-selected community directors once operations begin.
Annual appropriation control
All Borough operating support is subject to Assembly vote each year. The Assembly never surrenders its power of the purse. If the project underperforms, community benefit commitments adjust proportionally, and the Borough's reporting requirements include annual audited impact data with independent verification every three years.
What Happens to Carlson
The Block doesn't just replace the Carlson Center. It frees up a Borough-owned facility for community reuse rather than demolition or mothballing. Fairbanks sits at the intersection of extreme cold, accessible infrastructure, and a skilled technical workforce. That makes it a natural home for cold-weather product testing, Arctic research partnerships, and innovation-economy tenants. Repurposing the Carlson Center as an Arctic innovation and testing hub would create year-round technical jobs and diversify the local economy beyond resource extraction and government.
The specific reuse will be determined by condition assessments, conversion costs, and community input. The transition does not begin until The Block is open. The Borough retains full control of the Carlson Center until then.
What Happens Next
Public input sessions begin. Design development and cost study completed.
Construction. Approximately 400 jobs over the build period.
The Block opens. Carlson Center transitions to new community uses.
FAQ
Common questions about The Block, its funding, governance, and what it means for Fairbanks.
Have Your Say
This project will go through multiple rounds of public input and Assembly review before any financial commitments are made. Your feedback shapes the outcome.
Watch for announcements through Borough communication channels and local media, or contact your Assembly representative directly.