It was missing some amenity that would be regarded as standard in the twenty first centre, things like air conditioning and change rooms.

ISD began a fundraising campaign, led by Neil Gamble, Edwin Harley and Trevor Lewis, to pay $3.3 million for critical and desired works.

[3] ISD completed construction in 2004 thanks to funds raised through community trust grants and issuing of debentures to club members.

[1] Two years after the Big Chill had closed, in October 2004, the new Dunedin Ice Stadium opened to the public for the first time.

[4] One year after the opening of the new stadium, adjacent to the Corinne Gilkison ice rink, ISD began construction on a four-lane curling sheet with funding from the Caversham Foundation.

[1][4] In 2008, the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) expanded to include the newly established Dunedin Thunder.

[5] The Thunder would base themselves at the Dunedin Ice Stadium with national NZIHL games played and training conducted at the venue.

In August, Dunedin played hosts to international figure skating and ice hockey events at the venue as part of the 2009 New Zealand Winter Games.

The Ice Stadium's governance structure was modified in 2013 to include representation from the Dunedin City Council and Sport Otago on top of ISD.

In April 2009, the venue hosted 2009 IIHF World Championship Division III, which included fifteen scheduled games and involved the New Zealand Ice Blacks.

New Zealand won all five games at the venue in the tournament, one in over-time, to finish top of the standings and earn promotion to division II for 2010.