The Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, originally Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex,[1] is a 102,000 square foot[2] multi-purpose arena in Wasilla, Alaska, designed to accommodate up to 5,000 people.[3] It is home to the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League, and in 2010 will be home to the Arctic Predators of the American Indoor Football Association. In 2002, Wasilla residents voted to add half a percentage point to their sales tax to fund construction of the $14.7 million facility.[2] This project was significantly delayed by an eminent domain lawsuit brought by the prior landowner, Gary Lundgren.[4]
According to Dianne M. Keller, former mayor of Wasilla, passing the sales tax increase to build the sports complex was one of Sarah Palin's major achievements during Palin's own term as mayor of Wasilla.[5] The publicly-bid contract for construction was awarded to Spenard Builders Supply, the primary building supply company in Wasilla prior to the recent construction of Lowe's and Home Depot.[6] During the 2008 United States presidential election it was alleged, without substantiation, that the contract had been granted in exchange for favors.[6]
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