Nelson Center

{{Short description|Recreation and sports venue in Springfield, Illinois}} {{confused|Nelson Central}} {{Infobox venue | name = Nelson Center | nickname = | image = | location = 1601 North 5th Street<br />Springfield, IL 62702 | broke_ground = | opened = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Springfield Park District | operator = Springfield Park District | surface = 200' x 85'(hockey) | construction_cost = | architect = | former_names = | tenants = Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL) | seating_capacity = 2,100 (hockey) | public_transit = {{Bus icon}} SMTD }}

The '''Franklin P. Nelson Recreation Center''' ("Nelson Center") is a 2,100-seat multi purpose ice arena and recreational facility located in Springfield, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/springfield_junior_blues_hocky-l2052451|title=The History of Hockey in Springfield|publisher=dexknows.com|accessdate=2018-04-22}}</ref> The ice arena has two NHL regulation-sized ice sheets.

It is the home to the Springfield Jr. Blues of the North American Hockey League<ref>{{cite web |title=Jr. Blues Forward Trent Frey Commits to Div. I Mercy Hurst|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3769891|work=Our Sports Central|date=January 27, 2009|accessdate=January 22, 2014}}</ref> and former home of the Robert Morris–Springfield Eagles men's ice hockey team competing at the ACHA Division III level in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jr. Blues Hitting a High Note Down South|url=http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=1196|publisher=North American Hockey League|date=November 16, 2009|accessdate=January 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmueagles.com/f/Facilities_and_Directions.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818060447/http://www.rmueagles.com/f/Facilities_and_Directions.php|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 18, 2012|title=Facilities|publisher=rmueagles.com|accessdate=2018-06-11}}</ref> The Nelson center is also home to several local high school ice hockey teams,<ref>{{cite web |title=Nelson Center|url=http://llhh.org/facility.php?facility_id=186|publisher=Lincoln Land High School Hockey|accessdate=January 22, 2014}}</ref> and is used by local figure skating clubs, youth, and adult recreational ice hockey leagues, as well as public skating.

The Nelson Center was opened with one ice rink in the early 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.springfieldkings.org/page/show/1286674-history |title=History |access-date=2018-02-07 |archive-date=2016-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423105936/http://www.springfieldkings.org/page/show/1286674-history |url-status=dead }}</ref> The second rink was opened in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sj-r.com/article/20140813/News/140819750|title=Ohio State to refill Mirror Lake from underground well}}</ref>

On May 30, 1976, the rock band Rush played the Nelson Center, a stop on the band's 2112 concert tour.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211210/IThi9FW4YSo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20211124204210/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IThi9FW4YSo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IThi9FW4YSo| title = Rush 1976 05 30 Springfield (soundboard) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://springfieldparks.org/facilities/ice/nelsonicerinks.aspx Official site] *[http://www.jrblues.com/ Springfield Jr. Blues] *[http://www.robertmorris.edu/athletics/menshockey/springfield/ RMU-Springfield Hockey]

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Category:Indoor arenas in Illinois Category:Ice hockey venues in Illinois Category:Robert Morris–Springfield Eagles Category:Sports venues in Springfield, Illinois Category:Tourist attractions in Springfield, Illinois