This pin comes from the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the history of the pin begins in 1998 when the Utah legislature passed House Bill 284, which appropriated $2,000,000 USD to aid the construction of the "Bridgerland Ice Arena" in North Logan, Utah (85 miles north of Salt Lake City). The facility had its official grand opening on January 10, 2002, less than a month prior to the opening of the 2002 Games, but still there remained much to be completed (the sound system, part of the seating, the locker rooms and the concessions areas still remained unfinished). Unfortunately, the construction project was out of money and the remaining projects would still cost an additional $1,300,000 USD.So, in stepped some wonderful Olympians. The Bridgerland Ice Arena had made deals to serve as the Olympic training center for the Chinese short track speed skaters, the French and Russian figure skaters, and the Swiss hockey team. Prior to the beginning of the Olympic Games, these athletes (along with the Slovakian Olympic hockey team) agreed to exhibition performances to assist in the fund raising efforts. Thus, thanks in part to the Olympic athletes who called the ice arena their own temporary training facility, the construction project was ultimately completed at a cost of $5,300,000 USD.
Following the Winter Games, the Utah State University hockey team began using the facility for its practices and home games, and the arena also serves as a community center for the general public to enjoy.
There was a limited number of 300 of these Bridgerland Ice Arena pins produced, and the pin has a value of $20.00 USD.
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