RAPID CITY, SD — The Monument has completed a nearly $2.1 million capital improvement project replacing and expanding digital displays throughout the Ice Arena and upgrading the facility’s exterior marquee.

The investment ius part of The Monument’s long-term capital improvement plan and represents the latest effort to maintain and modernize the community-owned facility.

The project includes a new South End video board more than twice the size of the previous display, the addition of a new North End video board, an upgraded ribbon board and new concourse displays throughout the Ice Arena.

The Monument’s exterior marquee, prominently visible from Mt. Rushmore Road and Omaha Street, was also replaced with a new high-resolution digital display. The Ice Arena’s previous digital boards had been in place since the facility opened in 2009.

“All of this is to make sure this space is viable for years to come,” Craig Baltzer, Executive Director, Monument said.

The Monument hosted an open house to provide information on the upgrades Monday afternoon.

Baltzer said the upgrade was important to several of the groups and organizations that used the ice arena space throughout the course of the year.

“But probably nobody more important than the Rapid City Rush professional hockey team,” Baltzer said. “The Rapid City Rush, last year, signed a five-year deal with us… that’s what allowed us to put an investment into this building.”

The new display system provides significantly improved image quality and greater flexibility to support the diverse programming hosted in the Ice Arena. In addition to Rapid City Rush hockey, the venue regularly welcomes SDHSAA events, family shows, graduations, conventions and other sporting and community events throughout the year.

The improvements continue The Monument’s ongoing commitment to strategically reinvesting in its facilities through planned capital projects. From major infrastructure to guest-facing technology, long-term capital planning allows The Monument to address aging equipment while ensuring its venues remain functional, relevant and adaptable to the changing needs of events and guests. 

A new north end display was part of the project at the ice arena.

Craig Baltzer, Executive Director, Monument, explains the project during the open house Monday.