Demand: Southern California is an Underserved Market

Private Interests Cannot Fill the Demand

Ice Rink is Consistent with the Great Park Philosophy

Uses: Open Skating, Figure Skating, Hockey, Speed Skating, Others

Potential for Other Recreational Uses as a Sports Complex or Recreation Center

Description of Potential Facility

Existing Facilities

Economics

Management/Ownership

Links

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Southern California is an Underserved Market

• Southern California has 27 Ice Rinks serving a population of  16.5 million (one per every 612,000 residents).

• Canada has approximately 5,500 rinks serving a population of  30 million (one for every 5,454 residents).

• The United States has approximately 2,500 rinks serving a population of 295 million (one for every 118,000 residents).

• Northern California has 19 Ice Rinks serving a population of  7 million (one for every 368,000 people).

• Areas with affluent residents and young families support a greater number of rinks.

• USA Hockey has over 366,000 youth registered in hockey in the US and another 71,000 adults.  In the Pacific Region alone, USA Hockey reports 2,265 registered teams.  More play recreational hockey.

• Southern California Youth Hockey Teams are competitive at the national level.

• More than 171,000 people are registered as members of the US Figure Skating Organization.  Even more participate in recreational figure skating.

• Many families participate in open skating annually.

• The former Irvine Ice Arena, closed in 2000, was extremely popular, but succumbed to the high land cost.

• The Irvine City Council authorized a committee to explore opportunities for a new ice rink in Irvine at the August 8, 2000 City Council Meeting as reported in the Irvine World News.

• Identified as emulating other great parks by inclusion of a picture of Ice Skaters in Central Park on page 7 of the Great Park Corporation Summer 2004 Benchmark Report.

• Consistent with other world class cities in California such as Valencia, San Diego, San Jose and Los Angeles.
   
• Touted by Southern California cities as a reason to live or visit there such as Valencia and Bakersfield.

• Similar proposals have been made in other Orange County communities like Diamond Bar.

• Many Orange County residents travel hundreds of miles a week to play ice hockey.

• Roller hockey is very popular in Southern California and many players desire to supplement this with ice hockey.

• Many of the top professional and amateur figure skaters in the US are from Orange County and Southern California (Sasha Cohen, Michelle Kwan, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin.)

• Southern California is home to two NHL Franchises, the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

• Many current and former professional hockey players and figure skaters live in the area and are likely to contribute to an Ice Rink in one form or another (coaching, clinics, consulting, etc.).

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With the high cost of land in Orange County, it’s difficult to operate an ice rink and give residents an affordable experience.

• This problem has been identified by the Irvine City Counsel in the past.  See minutes of  Irvine City Counsel Dated August 8, 2000 and related Irvine World News article.
   
• Orange County has only six ice rinks with a total of 8 surfaces.

• Disney Ice - Anaheim (2 sheets) - Built in cooperation with the City of Anaheim and supported by Disney and the Mighty Ducks

• Glacial Gardens – Anaheim (2 sheets) – privately owned and operated

• Aliso Viejo Ice Palace – Aliso Viejo (1 sheet) – housed in an industrial tilt-up purchased years ago

• Yorba Linda Ice Palace – Yorba Linda (1 sheet) – housed in a former grocery store, exists only because the grocery tenant is stuck on the lease and agreed to sublease cheaply

• Westminster Ice Rink – Westminster (1 sheet) – housed in a former grocery store that was unable to continue because of demographics of the neighborhood

• Skate Zone – Huntington Beach – (1 ice sheet, 1 roller surface) – privately owned and operated (started to provide owner’s daughter with a place to skate)

• Former Closed Ice Rinks

• ANAHEIM, Glacier Falls Ice Arena.

• BAKERSFIELD, Bakersfield Ice Chalet.

• BREA, Ice Capades Chalet at north end of Brea Mall. Opened in early '80's, closed in about 1987 for expansion of the mall.

• COSTA MESA, Klondike. On Paularino Avenue, bounded on the north by South Coast Plaza and the San Diego Fwy, on the east by the Newport Fwy and on the southwest by the Corona Del Mar Fwy. Opened and closed in the '70's but was not put to alternate use for a long time.

• COSTA MESA Ice Chalet was in the Mesa Verde Center 2701 Harbor Blvd, approximately 1970-2001.

• GARDEN GROVE, Westbrook Ice Arena, 10131 Westminster Ave. Opened in mid '70's and was converted to a bowling alley within about two years.

• IRVINE, Irvine Ice Arena, 3400 Michaelson Drive. In 2000 this very successful, popular, very attractive modern rink was closed and converted to a synagogue.

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• Great Park Corporation Bylaws Article III – Purposes and Objectives, Section 1.  Specific Purpose.  “The specific and primary purpose of this corporation is to receive, develop, and operate property and improvements located in the City of Irvine and within the boundaries of the former United States Marine Corp Air Station El Toro, for public park, recreation, exposition and open space purposes as the “Orange County Great Park” project for the benefit of the residents of the City of Irvine, residents of Orange County, and others.”

• Minutes of Irvine City Council Meeting – August 8, 2000.  Section 7 – Reports, 7.1 Discussion of New Site for Ice Arena.

“This item was agendized by the Councilmember Agran who expressed his concerns on the role the City might play on fostering commercial recreation opportunities in Irvine, and his desire to form a task force on commercial recreation opportunities that would include the members of the City Council and number of different districts and interests from the community.

Council discussion included Council’s desire to help find a new location for the ice arena; including the private sector as well as the public sector on the task force; and the need for the task force to identify public/private partnership opportunities, and also explore organizational structure, i.e. foundations, non-profit corporations, etc.”

• Irvine World News Article:

“city officials are still on the hunt for a new ice rink for skaters displaced when Irvine Ice Arena closed in August.  Last week, the City Council discussed the idea of building a rink at the former El Toro air station.”

• Ice Skating depicted on page 7 of the Great Park Corporation Summer 2004 Benchmark Report.

• Great Part Conservancy Mission Statement:

“We support the vision of the Great Park as a wonderful public amenity that will offer something for everyone, no matter what his or her age, economic circumstances, or place of residence.”

• Provide safe and fun place for teens to go in the evenings and occupy their time.

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The facility can also be developed as a Recreation Center that encompasses more than just Ice.  It can also support other community functions, including other nearby outdoor sports.

• Meeting Rooms (e.g., boards of Little League, AYSO, Pony, etc.)
• Study Halls for kids between sporting events or recreation
• Sports Courts (Basketball, racquetball, etc.)
• Community Center (ping pong, pool tables, foosball, television, arcade)
• Batting Cages
• Indoor Golf Cage
• Storage Lockers for sports groups’ equipments (Little league, AYSO, Pony, etc.)
• Snack Bar/Restaurant
• Sporting Goods Store
• Roller Hockey/Skating Surface
• Workout Room
• Ballet Room
• Party Room
• Banquet Room
• Pro Shop

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• Size:
   
  • One, Two or Three Sheets
  • Two or Three are the most economical:
    1. The first as an NHL size (85’ x 200’)
    2. The second as an Olympic size (100’ x 200’)
    3. The third as either another NHL rink or a mini rink for beginners or lessons
        
• Cost
   
  • To be determined based on design
  • Recent comparables: Valencia, Las Vegas, Artesia
  • Valencia Ice Station would be a good model (Award winning for design and engineering, requiring 25% less energy due to environment friendly designs.)
     
• Ideal facility (to be further reviewed):

 
• Similar to Ice Station Valencia but with more community facilities.
• Three sheets of ice (NHL, Olympic, half-size)

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Artesia Ice Palace
 

Bakersfield Sports Center
 

Center Ice Ontario
 

Culver City Ice Arena
 

Disney Ice Anaheim

Easy Street Arena Simi Valley
 

Glacial Gardens Anaheim

Glacial Gardens Lakewood

Health South Training Center Los Angeles

Ice Town Riverside
 

Iceon Skate Center Sylmar
 

Iceoplex Panorama City
 

Norwalk Ice Arena - No Link
 

Ontario Ice Skating Center
 

Oxnard Ice Skating Center
 

Paramount Iceland
 

Pasadena Skating Center
 

Pickwick Ice Arena Burbank
 

Skate Zone Huntington Beach
 

Skating Edge Ice Center
 

Valencia Ice Station
 

Van Nuys Iceland
 

Westminster Ice Arena
 

Yorba Linda Ice Palace

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• Revenue sources

 
• Hockey – Recreation/Club
• Open Skating
• Figure Skating
• Concessions
• Sponsorships (Rink Ads)
• Tournaments
• Shows
• College
• High School
• Community Classes
• Lessons
• Clinics
• Visiting NHL Teams
   
• Facility likely to draw new people to ice skating

 
• People tend to look for convenience
• Former Irvine Rink drew mainly from Irvine
• Aliso Viejo (closest rink to Irvine) draws mainly from the surrounding communities (very few are from Irvine)
• Demographics of South and Central Orange County are ideal (young/affluent sports and recreation oriented)
• Open Skating will draw local families, give them alternative recreation experience
• Teenagers have a place to go and recreate in the evenings and on weekends
   
• Costs

 
• Construction
• Personnel
• Utilities
• Maintenance
• Property Taxes
   
• Facility to provide additional opportunities for existing people in the sport

 
• Existing Hockey Programs need more ice time
• Existing figure skating programs need more ice time
   
• Won’t take away from or interfere with existing private facilities (in fact it will enhance the programs)

 
• Hockey – a new facility will give opportunities for existing programs to have another facility and programs for competition
• Will give people additional choice, enhancing opportunities and drawing more to the sports
   
• As local residents become involved in ice programs and tell their friends, classmates, neighbors and colleagues, many will try various ice activities and stick with it