U of M’s Sudden Policy Shift Axes Arena Commencements for Local High Schools
A major announcement this week from the University of Minnesota now has several local high schools wondering where to hold commencement ceremonies next spring.
The Osseo, Wayzata and Anoka-Hennepin school districts all received notifications that they would no longer be allowed to use university facilities for high school commencement ceremonies.
Park Center, Osseo, Maple Grove, Champlin Park and Wayzata high schools have all used the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena for their graduations in recent years.
The statement from the university read, in part:
After a thorough institutional review of resource needs, requirements to ensure safety for all, and operational priorities, the University has made the difficult decision to discontinue rentals of University facilities for high school commencement ceremonies on the Twin Cities campus. This change is effective for the spring 2026 commencement cycle.
Higher education faces increasingly complex challenges, including increasingly constrained resources. We are making this change to match today’s circumstances. Hosting more than 20 large-scale commencement events with thousands of attendees, within a compressed two-week window, creates an unsustainable strain on our core operational and public safety resources.
During a time of financial constraint, we must focus our limited resources on University students and operations. These events require substantial public safety, parking, and facilities (custodial, recycling, and grounds) staffing and resources.”
Security for such large events is indeed a concern. This past spring, a father of a Wayzata High School graduate was one of two people injured in a shooting that occurred outside Mariucci Arena following the school’s commencement ceremony. Police said the gunfire had no connection to the ceremony.
The parent eventually recovered from gunshot injuries after being hospitalized.
Students from Wayzata High School’s Class of 2025 gathered at 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus for their commencement ceremony.
School Districts React
Kay Villela, a spokesperson from Osseo Area Schools, said: “The district is actively exploring new venue options for the Class of 2026 ceremonies for Maple Grove, Osseo, and Park Center Senior High Schools. At this time, the graduation date is not changing, though a venue change could potentially require a date adjustment.”
Jim Skelly, a spokesperson from Anoka-Hennepin Schools, described the situation as “very challenging.” A statement sent to seniors and parents/guardians in the district said: “The school district is actively exploring other options for an off-campus ceremony with the goal of identifying a solution as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Wayzata High School Principal Scott Gengler said the school, which is Minnesota’s largest, is “in the process of exploring alternative venues for our 2026 graduation ceremony.”
“While it’s too early to share specific details, please know that we are fully committed to providing a meaningful and well-organized celebration for our seniors and their families,” Gengler added. “We’ve held our graduation at Mariucci for many years, and before that, at the Target Center, which remains a viable option. We’re also exploring other large venues that can accommodate approximately 1,000 graduating seniors and their families.”
Related: 2025 Wayzata Senior High School Commencement
Maple Grove Senior High School
Osseo Senior High School
Park Center Senior High School
Wayzata High SchoolBrooklyn Park | Champlin | Maple Grove | Osseo | Plymouth | Wayzata
