WTVO reported that Rockford’s indoor ice arenas may be consolidated to one facility from two over the next few years. The plan would be for the Rockford Park District to concentrate investments in Carlson Ice Arena and to eventually close Riverview Ice House, due to the age and condition of Riverview’s ice plant.
Scott Burfoot, General Manager of Ice Facilities for the Park District, reportedly said, “We’re not closing down Riverview, you know, on October 13, this is just an approval and we can start looking at, you know, the next steps. But, Riverview is going to be staying open, you know it could be for the next three to five years.”
Burfoot refers to a meeting of the Rockford Park District Board of Directors on October 13, where the plan will be discussed.
The Potential Impact on Youth Hockey in Rockford
The Hockey Community in the Rockford area is concerned that this consolidation will have a negative impact of the sport.
Frank Casalena, a 14U and 8U coach for the Rockford Road Runners Hockey Club said, “If they closed Riverview it would be devastating to youth hockey. Riverview has a full sheet and a small sheet of ice. (60 by 90 {feet}). We would in essence lose two sheets and will not have enough ice for our youth teams to practice. We have 15 teams plus an additional 300 to 400 players in the in-house program.”