On Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, the UW-Eau Claire Sonnentag Center had its grand opening to the general public to announce all the amenities. The gym has been open to the public since July 2024, but all the finished puzzle pieces of the new Sonnentag Center came together this week for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the community heard speeches from John and Carolyn Sonnentag, alumni of the university and two of the main contributors to the new facility who donated cash and land value adding up to around $70 million.
The crowd also heard a performance from the Blugold Marching Band, and sports were tabling and recruiting for club sports.
“This project has far exceeded my expectations,” John Sonnentag said. “Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with building this marvelous complex.”
This $122 million and 225,900-square-foot facility is home to Blugold Athletics, the Sonnentag Event Center, the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, UW-Eau Claire’s Center for Health and Well-being, and the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center.
According to UW-Eau Claire Integrated Marketing and Communications, this facility was built with the help of the Sonnentag family, the UW-Eau Claire current students, the Pablo Foundation, the City of Eau Claire and Xcel Energy.
Before the new Sonnentag Center, UW-Eau Claire used Zorn Arena, which is located next to Centennial Hall on the Lower Campus and used for commencement, basketball games, the Career Closet, the Campus Harvest Food Pantry and guest speakers.
As a nod to the history of Zorn Arena, the new Sonnentag Center has floorboards from the old arena along the walls in the front entrance to commemorate the historical significance Zorn Arena has had on the University.
According to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, The Sonnentag Center will accommodate a total capacity of 5,000 people, a two-story UW-Eau Claire Recreation Center, a 120-yard field house with 72-foot ceilings and offices for Blugold Athletics. They also have courts to accommodate volleyball and basketball, a gift shop that sells UWEC merch and a large parking lot to accommodate the entire venue, with electric parking options as well.
“We’re really happy to have this resource,” said Abigail Reedy, a member of Blugold Marching Band and current student.
For upcoming athletic events at the Sonnentag Center, women’s volleyball will be at home at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024 against UW-River Falls.
Heunisch can be reached at [email protected].
