The Duke Nelson Arena was an indoor arena located on the campus of Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. The arena was the truly first indoor home for the program as the previous rink was a covered rink exposed to the elements. The arena opened in 1948. It was actualy an old aircraft hanger from Sampson Air Force Base which was located near Seneca Lake, New York. The hanger was dismantled and transported to be built as a new arena. The ice sheet was 185'x85' until the building was expanded in 1983 when it became 200'x95'. The arena would serve as the Middlebury Panthers home until the opening of the Chip Kenyon '85 Arena.