Lease Hold Opportunity for Ice Arena Wales.

[pjj365]

The council haven't a clue.
The arena was due to start construction in spring 2022 with a view to 2025 opening. But planning consent was not granted till March without a change in the end date as obviously build would not start in the spring
There is also a question on assumptions with inflation as it is
So, the velodrome may turn into a BBT scenario to save face but leaves the council with undeveloped land the IAW, the Pool and the White Water Centre and a delayed arena
Oh, and the council is broke but spending on vanity projects - e.g. the canal quarter and a new bridge over the Taff
For an organisation that does not appear, in that well known phrase, able to walk and chew gum that's one hell of a challenge
We can only watch this space in hope that the IAW is safe

 

[Leighton]

My understanding is the main priority is to keep the IAW as an ice venue, if no tenders are forthcoming for that, then yes if an application to repurpose the venue is suitable to the Council it could. Its all depending on who applies.

jeezuz.... thats worrying...

 

[ShawnK]

The council haven't a clue.
The arena was due to start construction in spring 2022 with a view to 2025 opening. But planning consent was not granted till March without a change in the end date as obviously build would not start in the spring
There is also a question on assumptions with inflation as it is
So, the velodrome may turn into a BBT scenario to save face but leaves the council with undeveloped land the IAW, the Pool and the White Water Centre and a delayed arena
Oh, and the council is broke but spending on vanity projects - e.g. the canal quarter and a new bridge over the Taff
For an organisation that does not appear, in that well known phrase, able to walk and chew gum that's one hell of a challenge
We can only watch this space in hope that the IAW is safe

Do you know what prevented them from getting approval at the right time? Maybe this construction is not desirable and it will not be finished?

 

[pjj365]

Do you know what prevented them from getting approval at the right time? Maybe this construction is not desirable and it will not be finished?

No idea - maybe Covid
As to not finished that's always a risk with CC but let's hope not. Better not start at all rather than leave a defunct construction site

 

[Kevlar68]

I think the IAW has never been utilised properly so there is great potential for someone if they take over the leasehold without having to change the building for other purposes and keep it the home of the Devils. It just needs the effort put in.
Firstly you have a home team with TV coverage for your venue.
You have a venue that could become a multi purpose venue of a good size for concerts and sporting events.
WNIR held concerts with bands like Deacon Blue, Status Quo, Madness, Meatloaf, KISS, Brian May, Gary Numan, L7, The Prodigy and Blur playing there with a 2800 capacity also Fatboy Slim played a set there for the Millennium New Year party.
Sporting events could easily be held there. WNIR held a Joe Calzaghi world title fight along with quite a few other boxing nights, the second pad as it is now could be an indoor fan zone for world cup, just need a high powered projector as you have a blank white wall there to project on to.
It could also be used for exhibitions and private functions. WNIR held the players presentation night there on the ice pad in a marquee, i was the DJ that night, slightly drunk but i think everyone was.
Whoever leases the IAW needs to see it's true potential without changing the purpose of the building. It's a good size for certain events and if the WNIR could hold what it did then the IAW could do the same.

 

[BostonBart22]

I think the IAW has never been utilised properly so there is great potential for someone if they take over the leasehold without having to change the building for other purposes and keep it the home of the Devils. It just needs the effort put in.
Firstly you have a home team with TV coverage for your venue.
You have a venue that could become a multi purpose venue of a good size for concerts and sporting events.
WNIR held concerts with bands like Deacon Blue, Status Quo, Madness, Meatloaf, KISS, Brian May, Gary Numan, L7, The Prodigy and Blur playing there with a 2800 capacity also Fatboy Slim played a set there for the Millennium New Year party.
Sporting events could easily be held there. WNIR held a Joe Calzaghi world title fight along with quite a few other boxing nights, the second pad as it is now could be an indoor fan zone for world cup, just need a high powered projector as you have a blank white wall there to project on to.
It could also be used for exhibitions and private functions. WNIR held the players presentation night there on the ice pad in a marquee, i was the DJ that night, slightly drunk but i think everyone was.
Whoever leases the IAW needs to see it's true potential without changing the purpose of the building. It's a good size for certain events and if the WNIR could hold what it did then the IAW could do the same.

The last time they had boxing at IAW seats were ripped out and other damages to the stadium due to scuffles in crowd involving travellers which is no surprise...

 

[Kevlar68]

Stadium? I've attended a couple of boxing events and never seen any trouble so not all are like that. Also UFC, MMA etc seem to also be well attended events and wrestling.

 

[Deleted member 1337]

The last time they had boxing at IAW seats were ripped out and other damages to the stadium due to scuffles in crowd involving travellers which is no surprise...

Maybe IAW could host events that doesn't have a likelihood of attracting gypsies and hooligans. I doubt people watching snooker or having Madness play would cause the same level of damage

 

[lloyd_jeff]

The only events Greenbank could attract to the IAW, nearly lost them their licenses too. That was at a time the ICC in Newport hadn’t yet opened.

 

[Kevlar68]

Even if you left out any combat sports there are plenty of events you could hold in the arena, if you had a good person doing the marketing you could easily pull in an event a week which would be pushing it (2 days set up, event day, 2 days break down) but you could out of hockey season and use ice pad 2 for public skating. During hockey season you could use pad 2 for record fairs, exhibitions, private functions etc things that don't need the arena seating and have events in the main arena when the devils are away all weekend.

 

[James]

As far as I'm aware there is a gap in the market in Cardiff for a venue between 1000 (Tramshed) and the 7000(CIA). I'm surprised there hasn't been more demand for the arena as a music venue tbh.

 

[bozzer]

the fan zone is a great idea

 

[lloyd_jeff]

The IAW is limited by staff & access, to put on a production that would involve lighting rigs, stageing, sound systems you need decent access for vehicles, platforms etc. Then you need to remove boards, plexi, cover the ice & I’m no expert but I’d imagine melting & re-icing would be pretty involved & expensive. The plans for a multi purpose 3300 seat arena during the planning stages got amended and it was pointed out that the changes limited it multifunctional abilities. They couldn’t even get the team benches right.
Maybe a new leaseholder is confident enough to overcome these issues & they've got access to events looking for a venue of this size. I guess we will find out soon, having an ice rink in a Capitol City that can’t accommodate shows such as Disneys Dancing on Ice, which is returning to the city in February, is embarrassing, although luckily the City does have venues more than capable, and amble parking too. I might be wrong, beyond Planet Ice or the owner group, I doubt anyone else is likely to take it on.

 

[Wannabe2]

IAW has already staged boxing, netball, as for access you can get 3-4 Artic trucks to the back of the Arena no problem.

 

[Kevlar68]

I've done it at WNIR. You don't melt the ice and re-ice. The boards are a huge jigsaw puzzle that is insulated and lay on top of ice, we removed the plexi and boards are left, the rig is set up by bands road crew, there are gates that open up around the boards to let the public on to boards. We could get the rink ready for the road crew overnight and took 6 of us the same as when we used to lay new ice with logos it was 6 of us through the night.

 

[pjj365]

I've been to concerts on the ice at MEN boarded as Kevlar86 says
Also re Disney surely it's a won't not a can't - in February - no way should the fixtures change now

 

[lloyd_jeff]

Everything you’ve all mentioned I’m well aware of, its all got a cost and its simply not been viable, practical or affordable. As for the future if any lease holder is prepared to spend the money on the infrastructure, improved electrical supplies, ceiling rigs for lighting, acoustics, ice coverings and employees to carry out the necessary works then they should be all falling over themselves to run the place.

 

[Kevlar68]

But your not well aware of are you, the ice doesn't get melted, the boards don't get removed, there is good access, rink staff to set up is minimal and do you actually know it's not viable or has the IAW marketing been poor?
What with covid and now with utility costs who's going to fall over themselves to take on a arena?

 

[Wannabe2]

Everything you’ve all mentioned I’m well aware of, its all got a cost and its simply not been viable, practical or affordable. As for the future if any lease holder is prepared to spend the money on the infrastructure, improved electrical supplies, ceiling rigs for lighting, acoustics, ice coverings and employees to carry out the necessary works then they should be all falling over themselves to run the place.

You really don’t know what your talking about do you buddy, your comments are so off the mark there untrue.

 

[lloyd_jeff]

Not that it matters, but your only defence is that the IAW hasn’t bothered, that a multi million pound Arena built and run by a company with a proven track record & specialised in running venues, didn’t bother to try to run it as a multipurpose venue. Todd was GM of the Arena, how many profitable events did he bring into the IAW, you guys can, so how did Todd do ?