Cardiff Devils put forward plan for new ice rink
by Simon Gaskell, South Wales Echo
THE first stages of an exciting plan for the Cardiff Devils' new home have been unveiled.
Officials at the club have wasted no time in drawing up their vision for the future of the ice rink at the city's proposed International Sports Village.
They put their name forward when Cardiff council launched a procurement scheme for the rink.
The Devils' architects have drawn up prospective images of the rink's exterior and are looking at customising the inside, where there will be a 'multi-purpose facility'.
They have taken inspiration for their bid from a skating rink called Pôle Sud, or South Pole, based in Grenoble, France.
The Devils currently play their home games at a plastic-walled rink next to the international pool which is informally known by fans as 'the big blue tent'.
It is a far cry from the 3,000-capacity, £7m rink they hope to be able to develop.
Shannon Hope, Devils' director of hockey, said: 'If we do sell out at the moment, it is an uncomfortable environment.
'We want to make sure that the functionality is right and that, for example, if someone wants a hot dog, they can get a hot dog.'
The plans are for a two-pad facility that may have a curling area and could act as a mid-sized venue for smaller concerts and boxing.
The idea of a 'Six Nations of Hockey' tournament, involving top club sides from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy, is also being explored.
Mr Hope said the venue would be for the benefit of the whole of Wales and was adamant there would be Welsh involvement wherever possible.
He said: 'I am very positive about the whole project and bringing people in.
'We can make the reassurance that we are keen on having local people involved in the project that are good figureheads for Cardiff and South Wales.
'It is about what we can offer out into the community.'
Mr Hope would not say how the project would be financed but said negotiations with private investors were ongoing.
Cardiff council is also prepared to offer a loan of up to £1.7m to help, should a successful bidder meet the test of financial soundness.
Another interested party is likely to be Planet Ice, a franchise leisure company which has ice rinks throughout England.
Mr Hope said he was hopeful the Devils' bid would win.
'I think it is so important for the Devils to have control over their own destiny,' he said.
'We are currently busy from 6am until 1am.
'The drive is there; it is just who else we get in there to commit behind us.
'I have spent 22 years here; it has been my drive all the way through it to make sure the team has a great future.'
