ST. PAUL — An attempt by the Minnesota Senate to check a proposed move of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame away from the Iron Range was defeated on Friday, April 24.
An amendment to a state budget bill, introduced by Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown), seeking to prohibit the use of any state funds to relocate, refurbish or construct a new facility outside of the Iron Range was rejected by the Minnesota Senate in a 32-30 vote.
Sen. Rob Farnsworth (R-Hibbing) was the lone Republican Senator to vote in favor of the measure.
Sen. Karin Housley (R-Stillwater), who also serves as chair of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Board, was one of the dissenting voices.
“I encourage a no-vote on this amendment to give the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (museum) board the freedom to do what they choose to do and vote how they want to do it, not legislators in St. Paul telling them what they can or cannot do,” said Housley, whose husband, Phil, is a Hall of Fame inductee.
The facility, located on Hat Trick Drive in Eveleth since 1973, has been the source of a building argument within its board and the hockey community at large.
According to Minnesota Public Radio, the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild are interested in moving the facility to St. Paul as part of a scheduled redevelopment of the team’s home arena, Xcel Energy Center, and surrounding area.
Moving the facility from the Iron Range, several hours’ drive from a major metropolitan area, could boost attendance, fund improvements and bolster the organization’s financial health. However, local lawmakers and board members are up in arms over removing a community point of pride and source of tourism from an area with significant historical importance to the sport and have noted that other similar facilities have also been in rural areas such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York (population 1,794).
A rally opposing the proposed move was scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Eveleth facility.
Sen. Michael Kreun (R-Blaine) raised concerns about the constitutionality of the amendment.
“If there was a bill in front of us saying we should use state money to move the Hockey Hall of Fame from Eveleth to somewhere else, I’d vote no. That’s not what this is,” said Kreun. “This is an unconstitutional symbolic virtue signaling amendment that should not be taken seriously in this chamber.”
In voicing his support of the amendment, Hauschild cited the historic roots of hockey in the Iron Range, specifically Eveleth.
“Eveleth isn’t just a city. It’s the birthplace of American hockey greatness, where generations of kids grew up skating on frozen ponds with dreams bigger than the towns they came from. More than 80 players from Eveleth alone have gone on to play professional hockey,” said Hauschild. “That’s not just remarkable — it’s foundational to the story of American hockey.”
Though the amendment failed to pass, Hauschild will continue to fight to keep the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth.
“This is just the beginning,” said Hauschild. “Now legislators are on notice that utilizing state dollars to move the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame will be called out. I will not stop fighting to protect the Hall, to protect our history, and to ensure that future generations know where American hockey’s heart really beats — in Eveleth, Minnesota.”
Peter Mattras of Colchester, Connecticut, visits the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on June 29, 2022.
Steve Kuchera / File / Duluth News Tribune
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