The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will celebrate the grand opening of The Sonnentag complex Sept. 9-14 with activities that include a ribbon-cutting, open house, a salute to first responders, a comedy show and a country music concert.
A 21-gun salute will be part of Wednesday’s activities to honor first responders and the memory of 9/11.
The $122 million facility includes the Sonnentag Event Center, the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, UW-Eau Claire’s Center for Health and Wellbeing, the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center and Blugold athletics offices.
The 225,900-square-foot complex is the largest indoor event venue in northwest Wisconsin and was made possible through the $70 million donation in cash and land from UW-Eau Claire alumni John and Carolyn Sonnentag. UW-Eau Claire students, Pablo Foundation, the city of Eau Claire and Xcel Energy also were either financial or in-kind donors to the project.
