THE SULLY
Named after former Anchorage mayor
The Sullivan Arena was originally opened in February 1983, then temporarily shut down in 2019 where it became a homeless shelter. It’s resurgence came about in 2023 under the new management of The O’Malley Sports Organization and will reclaim it’s place, as a mainstay in the entertainment scene in Anchorage.
The Sullivan Arena is a multi-use facility, complete with an Olympic-size ice rink, with an insulated floor covering for basketball, concerts, and trade shows. Total square footage with all telescoping seats retracted is approximately 32,000 square feet.
The Sullivan Arena plays host to many events year-round. In addition to athletic entertainment, the Sullivan Arena also has annual trade shows, family events, concerts, and much more!
The Sullivan Arena is the largest multi-use indoor events venue in Alaska.
The O’Malley Sports Organization Story
O’Malley’s basic precept: Everyone deserves to participate and compete.
O’Malley Ice and Sports Center LLC (O’Malley) was first organized as O’Malley Ice Arena in 1999 when founders Steve Agni and Sig Jokiel developed a twin ice rink facility in South Anchorage. Since then, O’Malley has grown and evolved to become the largest owner or manager of team recreation and sports facilities in the State of Alaska. O’Malley owns and or, manages the Kelly Connect Center, the O’Malley Sports Center, the Ben Boeke Ice Arena, the Dempsey Anderson Ice Arena and the George M. Sullivan Arena. Omalleysports.com
O’Malley’s success and growth is based on the basic precept that everyone deserves to participate and compete. By emphasizing inclusive participation and a diverse patronage, O’Malley obtains the highest utilization in the State of Alaska for its managed facilities to the benefit of Owners and Users alike.
For over twenty years, O’Malley was jointly guided by founders Steve Agni and Sig Jokiel, until Sig’s untimely passing in 2021. Confronted with the loss of Sig and the devastating impact of the COVID pandemic on its recreation and active team sports business, Mr. Agni and the key staff of O’Malley faced a cross roads. Instead of curtailing operations, they resolved to honor Sig’s legacy and expand the business and were selected in 2022 by the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) to manage the re-opening of two MOA ice rinks: the Ben Boeke and the Dempsey Anderson Arenas.
In 2023 the MOA recognized O’Malley’s effective management of its two ice Arenas and appointed O’Malley the Manager of Anchorage’s iconic, yet COVID devastated sports and entertainment center, the George S. Sullivan Arena. Popularly known by Anchorage residents as the “Sully”.
The Sully was shut down in late 2019 and used as a homeless shelter during and after the pandemic, which did result in considerable damage to the facility. Through the effective collaboration of O’Malley and MOA staff, the Sully was restored to operations in about 120 days after the MOA Assembly approved the O’Malley management contract in October 2023. Ice skating resumed on the Sully’s Olympic size ice sheet in January 2024.
Renovations and repairs continued at the Sully in early 2024, while its use by the skating community resumed. Notable additions include the installation of a new state of the art LED “visual wall” for instant replay display and performers’ close-ups. The first exhibitions and spectator events are scheduled to resume by March of 2024 and a full calendar of those events now scheduled for the fall of 2024.
Adopting the slogan “The Sully is Rising”, O’Malley is committed to restoring the Sully to its former glory, recognizing the great athletes and performers that have previously played there before the enthusiastic and appreciative residents of Anchorage and all Alaska.
THE SULLY’S RISING!
A tribute to SIG JOKIEL
Co-Founder of the O’Malley Ice Arena
Sig furthered participation in Hockey and other team sports, as a player, coach, organizer, and facility developer.
His enthusiasm for hockey and the team camaraderie is what made him organize “the 49ers” - a non competitive, non-checking hockey club for senior men designed to promote fitness, fun and fellowship.
“The 49ers became an invite only membership club where skill and good sportsmanship were emphasized over competitive outcome. ”
Sig was born in Germany and came to Alaska with his older brother, Berni, to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he played hockey in the early 1960’s as a stalwart defenseman with superb speed and skating skills. After attending UAF he moved to Anchorage with his wife Gayl and soon became involved in men’s competitive senior hockey playing at the original “Ice Palace” on Fireweed in Anchorage. His team evolved into Anchorage’s first semi-professional team the “Wolverines”.
Sig extended the reach of adult hockey beyond Anchorage and placed well at tournaments in Canada, the lower forty-eight and internationally. This created friendly adult rivalries, for example with Whitehorse Canada that still exists today.
In the late 1980s he teamed up with Gary Miller to create the pioneering Firebirds girls’ hockey program, the first all-girls youth team in Alaska.
Sig’s successful legal battle on behalf of girl’s hockey, resulted in the girls getting an equal shot at ice time in Anchorage, which sent a strong ripple affect into other girls sports improving opportunities for young women.
Sig then went on to coach a team of Anchorage girls to a national championship!
In 2000, Sig partnered with Steve Agni to design and successfully develop and operate the O’Malley Ice Arena, a twin ice rink facility and the O’Malley Sports Center a multi-sport facility that included an indoor soccer pitch with four separate basketball courts. The O’Malley facilities were unique as they were privately financed and open to all comers. Unlike many private facilities which adopt “home teams” that enjoy favored scheduling and access, Sig made sure that all users that were dedicated to good sportsmanship, responsible management and youth guidance would have equal access to the O’Malley facilities.
Sig, who sadly passed in 2021 at the age of 80, was an inspiration to all who came to know, play or collaborate with him. Exactly one year after his death, in September 2022, he was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of fame.
