Thread starter
#1
Arena possibly up for sale https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/r...ampaign=Orlo&utm_content=ECONOMIC+DEVELOPMENT
Arena up for sale?
- Thread starter Legin
- Start date
- Cardiff Ice Arena
The report proposes that soft-marketing testing is carried out for Cardiff Ice Arena to see if there is any market interest in acquiring the asset. This would be on the firm basis that the Cardiff Devils position in the rink is protected through their current operational lease.
Although Cardiff Ice Arena is a younger building and major investment will not be required as soon as the other facilities, it was never intended for long-term Council ownership and the capital investment in the asset forms part of the overall debt currently being carried by the Council for the regeneration of the ISV site.
A soft marketing exercise would come with no commitment to sell the Ice Arena, and a further report would be brought back to Cabinet in future for the market response to be considered.
In order to maximise the potential of the proposed market exercise, the Council would like to agree the relocation of Fun HQ - the current sub-tenant occupying the second ice pad.
I only asked in another thread how much to.build a bigger arena. Lol
If the numbers add up, this could be a very good investment for someone. It says minimal maintenance needed, but could you, in theory, referb the arena, spin the main pad 90 degrees and boost seating capacity?? Could you keep a small 2nd pad if so??
I wonder if the new parking spaces are included or not.
You just kind of hope planet ice dont come knocking on the door.
If the numbers add up, this could be a very good investment for someone. It says minimal maintenance needed, but could you, in theory, referb the arena, spin the main pad 90 degrees and boost seating capacity?? Could you keep a small 2nd pad if so??
I wonder if the new parking spaces are included or not.
You just kind of hope planet ice dont come knocking on the door.
It's being sold as a venue for ice sports so it likely means the reopening of the 2nd ice pad if someone is willing to take it on. The current pad is massively oversubscribed. Rec hockey, public skating, junior hockey and figure skating all need more ice. Staff are working later and later to accommodate the demand. There are teams starting training at 11.30pm.
SORAC fought for a two pad facility to solve this very problem from the very start, these same problems were happening then and there still there now. Our fight for survival was based on having the right facility for all ice users which was our main weapon and objective . After many years and countless meetings we eventually won our long drawn out battle, if our fight was just to save the Devils we would have lost, purely because the council didn’t give a toss about a minority sport which wasn’t played with a funny shaped ball, representing all ice users was the Ace in the pack.Before anyone says why wasn’t it built bigger the Council had a ceiling on how much land they were willing to offer, and a certain price for the build plus we were then attracting 12-1500 fans in the BBT so to at least be doubling our attendance in the tent and to get out of a place that was beginning to fall down was very attractive and kept the devils alive.
In fact Cardiff Ciiy Council cancelled the contract for a 2500 seater 'Skydome in a box' that Planet Ice were going to build because they stated that it had to be a 2 pad facility as SORAC had proved there was a need.
I have always wondered if Planet Ice could have made some sort of claim because we actually ended up with a single pad.
I have always wondered if Planet Ice could have made some sort of claim because we actually ended up with a single pad.
Only ended up with a single pad due to COVID - will be the defence to any claim if such thing were contemplated but can't see it myself.
Re-opening the second pad only becomes a viable idea if the demands is there that would cover the cost of running the additional ice - as that was the reason given for taking it out in the first place.
I presume unrealistic but if the council are looking to offload assets, Devils purchasing the rink and surrounding land would put on a foothold to really develop (on our own terms) as and when possible. As it is - we are stuck where we are.
Interesting stuff.
Re-opening the second pad only becomes a viable idea if the demands is there that would cover the cost of running the additional ice - as that was the reason given for taking it out in the first place.
I presume unrealistic but if the council are looking to offload assets, Devils purchasing the rink and surrounding land would put on a foothold to really develop (on our own terms) as and when possible. As it is - we are stuck where we are.
Interesting stuff.
The challenge will be filling 2 ice pads in the day Monday to Friday. There is certainly enough demand to fill up the evenings. Im sure all hockey teams, figures skaters and public skaters would use more ice team. But when everyone is in work Monday to Friday, that is when it is difficult to fill the ice. While staff costs can be limited in this time the cost of the refrigeration plant is still there. It wasn't so much Covid that killed the 2nd pad but the energy crisis that followed.
Seemingly there are three units that provide the refrigeration (to both pads). One can do the job, two to help if you want a hurry up boost, A third is a back up when maintenance is required.
Proportionately it probably won’t cost a huge amount more to operate one main pad plus second pad. Let’s hope that fixtures and fittings have not deteriorated due to lack of use and no maintenance!!
Proportionately it probably won’t cost a huge amount more to operate one main pad plus second pad. Let’s hope that fixtures and fittings have not deteriorated due to lack of use and no maintenance!!
