A new chiller is being purchased for David M. McCarthy Ice Arena in Batavia, NY, with partial funding coming from a $1.2 million grant from New York State. Joanne Beck reported this in The Batavian on July 23.
The City of Batavia owns the 24,000 square foot facility. Batavia Sports Facility Management LLC operates McCarthy Ice Arena on behalf of the city. Residents use McCarthy year-round for a variety of hockey, skating, and non-ice programs.
Beck’s report also illustrates the impact of inflation on hockey arena maintenance. The chiller was reportedly identified as being deficient in early 2023, when replacement was thought to cost $2.5 million and include a new evaporator.
The article goes on to say that cost is now expected to be close to $4 million, but that the City Council was committed to doing the replacement work to extend the lifetime of the arena, reduce utilities costs, and to allow the ice surface to be used in the summer.