The Carlson Center is a 4,595-seat arena located along the banks of the Chena River and across from Growden Memorial Park in Fairbanks, Alaska. It is the third largest arena in Alaska followed behind the Sullivan Arena and Alaska Airlines Center located in Anchorage, Alaska. The Carlson Center opened on June 13, 1990, and is named after John A. Carlson (1920-1988), who served as Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor from 1968 to 1982.
In July 2021, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department took over management of the facility. Since then the facility has served as a community center and offers an indoor play area for ages 0-8 years and many other programs and activities for the community.
The facility serves as Interior Alaska's largest entertainment, sports, and meeting facility. It is home to the University of Fairbanks Alaska Nanooks Division 1 ice hockey team. It is also home to many graduation ceremonies. In August of 2021, it hosted the Foo Fighters!