Category: Arena News
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Jim Rogers, Owner of Three Arenas in Arizona, Passed Away at Age 55
ABC 15 Arizona reported Jim Rogers, owner of AZ Ice Rinks’ three indoor arenas in Arizona, passed away at age 55 on Wednesday. Relatives said that he died of natural causes, although he died while at one of his hockey facilities. Phoenix police are reportedly investigating. Rogers reportedly owned AZ Rinks Arcadia, Peoria, and Gilbert…
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PA Governor Wolf Lifts Gathering Limits on Indoor and Outdoor Venues, Apparently Clearing the Way for Hockey
The Tribune-Review reports Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf increased state-wide gathering-size limits tied to indoor and outdoor venue sizes. This announcement would seem to clear the way for unmodified ice hockey games to begin as early as this Friday. According to the report: “Indoor events are limited to 10% to 20% of capacity, depending upon the…
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Quebec Suspends Team Sports and Closes Sports Venues in Red Zones
The Montreal Gazette reported The Province of Quebec suspended team sports and closed fitness centers and gyms in Red Zones beginning October 8 for at least 20 days. According to the article provincial Junior Education Minister and Minister of Sports and Leisure Isabelle Charest made the announcement, and said, “For three weeks we’ll focus on…
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PIHL Publishes 4×4 Playing Rules to Allow Hockey Games to Proceed in Western PA
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, a USA Hockey-sanctioned hockey league aligned with schools and based in the Pittsburgh area, published its 4×4 Playing Rules Modifications to allow their regular season sub-varsity schedule to begin play this week. These rules are an attempt to conform scholastic ice hockey to the current Pennsylvania government mandates as well…
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Michigan to Allow Ice Rinks in the Lower Peninsula to Reopen October 9
The Detroit Free-Press reported that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order to allow ice rinks in the Lower Peninsula to reopen on Friday, October 9. Also reopening on that date are movie theaters, “bowling centers, indoor climbing facilities, trampoline parks, and more.” This is potentially a vast expansion of the number of people…
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Rockford Illinois May Consolidate Rink Operations to One Site
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,…
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Construction on Schedule for Seattle Kraken’s Practice Facility at Northgate Mall
The Seattle Times reported Wednesday that construction on the Seattle Kraken’s practice facility at Northgate Mall is on schedule for an opening in mid-July 2021. This facility will include three 200-by-85 foot ice sheets, the primary arena having approximately 1,000 seats plus “team lockers, training rooms, a medical facility, media center and corporate offices”. The…
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Coyotes Community Ice Center in Mesa Arizona Opening in Mid-October
Signals reported on Thursday that The Arizona Coyotes and Hill Hockey announced that the new one-sheet arena in Mesa will be called Coyotes Community Ice Center. The arena is expected to open in mid-October. Coyotes Community Ice Center is a single-sheet facility with a 200-by-85 foot surface. Google Street View of the area indicates that the…
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Wake Competition Center, New Practice Home of the Carolina Hurricanes, Opened in Early August
On August 7, WTVD reported that The Wake Competition Center opened. It is a multi-sport facility with two 200-by-85 foot ice sheets that was designed to be the primary practice facility for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. The report characterized the opening as “low-key, thanks to the pandemic”. Regarding opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael…
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Greater Toronto Hockey League “Pauses” Until After New Year
The Canadian Press reported that the Greater Toronto Hockey League has paused its planned activities for the rest of 2020. The article explains the decision was made “as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to soar in Ontario’s most populous city.” The league said it is acting on advice from the City of Toronto Health…