Breaking Ice is compiled from national media reports and member submissions. Please send news to editor@skateisi.org.
Two Rinks Approved for New Facility
BOWIE, Md. — City officials voted to include two sheets of ice — one Olympic-size, one NHL-size — in a new indoor sports facility, citing the high cost of renovating the failing Bowie Ice Arena and the promise of a higher return on the investment in the ice surfaces versus indoor sport courts.
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Local Developer Wants to Build $6M Hockey Arena
CASTLE ROCK, Wash. — Local businessman Greg Meakin, who built the Bremerton Ice Center in 2003 but was forced into foreclosure after one year, hopes to make Castle Rock an ice hockey hub with a new $6 million, 2- to 3-acre ice arena as the crown jewel of an expansive business park.
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Six-Rink Complex Enters Planning Process
AMESBURY, Mass. — Global Property Developers Corp. has chosen Amesbury from 31 communities for a proposed 400,000-square-foot facility that would include five NHL-size ice rinks and a smaller training rink.
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Ice Arena Expansion Among Top Budget Projects
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — A committee has suggested that the city of Steamboat Springs use some of its $1 million in lodging tax revenue to expand the Howelsen Ice Arena.
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41-Year-Old Arena Needs $1M in Updates
FLOSSMOOR, Ill. — The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District has a $1 million estimate for updates to its 41-year-old ice arena, which has not yet phased out its use of R-22 refrigerant.
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Rink Part of Controversial Project
KENNEWICK, Wash. — The Kennewick Public Facilities District is submitting a tax request to voters in November, asking them to approve a proposition for a $45 million package of projects known as “The Link,” which now includes a $5 million ice rink to replace the aging one at Pasco’s TRAC.
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Blackhawks Arena to Open Ahead of Schedule
CHICAGO — The privately funded $60 million Blackhawks Community Ice Arena is scheduled to open on budget and ahead of schedule, allowing the NHL team to begin practicing at the state-of-the-art facility and providing the community with a public arena for community, youth and adult hockey leagues as well as educational services.
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Private Group Given Go-Ahead to Raise Funds for Rink
RENO, Nevada — County commissioners have given the Greater Reno Community Ice Skating Association permission to raise $5 million to $7 million for an ice rink project at South Valley Regional Park.
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Rink Reopening Set for October
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Nearly four years since it was shuttered, the ice rink in the Bridgepointe Shopping Center will reopen in October with numerous improvements, operated by Nazareth Enterprise.
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Mayor Favors Rink Replacement Over Repairs
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Mayor Steve Allender supports building a new arena next to the existing Barnett Arena and repurposing the current facility rather than remodeling it.
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Costly Upgrades Needed at Red Wings Arena
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The NHL has notified the Red Wings that the two ice sheets at Centre Ice Arena must become NHL-compliant in order to continue to host the annual prospect tournament and training camp as it has been doing since 1997.
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Town Seeks to Purchase Rink
CHELMSFORD, Mass. — The town of Chelmsford’s 20-year agreement to manage and operate the state-owned Chelmsford Forum Ice Rink expires in June 2018, when the town hopes to purchase the facility.
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County Wants Long-Term Arena Lease
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Pensacola Ice Flyers officials were pleased to learn that they can lease a new ice plant for the Bay Center for $150,000 annually rather than purchase a new one for $1.9 million.
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Preseason Game Canceled Due to Poor Ice Conditions
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Coyotes were forced to cancel what was to be their first preseason game of the 2017-18 season, with the Los Angeles Kings, due to poor ice conditions following a weekend concert.
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