What’s not to like about the place. It’s the testicles! Yes it still needs kitting out, there the lack of phone/wifi signal is annoying and there is scope to extend the availability of food and drink outlets to cope with high demand but these are rectifiable problems. I would suggest we have the best facility in the UK to sustain hockey at this level.
We have amazing sightlines from almost every single seat.
The building is spacious, clean, bright and comfortable which lends itself as far more social facility than we have had previously.
It has two ice pads (only Nottingham as a stand alone venue has this) to help cope with demand for ice sports.
The main ice pads is Olympic sized allowing for an even playing field against other teams and even attract international competitions (although I’m old school and prefer the crash and bang style hockey on a small ice pad).
Come next season when the place is fully kitted out and the colours of sponsorship are around the arena is will look and feel even better. Dare I say if the Devils owners ever own IAW I suspect the pull will be even greater.
Huge credit has to go to every one involved, particularly SORAC who without their persistence we would have seen ice sports in South Wales die 10 years ago, let alone help sustain ice sports and support the delivery of this wonderful facility for which the Devils have free ice time!
I am actually surprised that there has been no official mention of the efforts of SORAC. It’s been a hectic time transferring over to IAW both on and off the ice but I would hope in the new season there will some kind of formal acknowledgement of the hard work of the committee members, both past and present.