MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Morgantown City Council members heard about 90 minutes of hockey players, hockey families, and residents asking them to pause a plan that would close the ice arena for as much as a year. Members of the public wanted more information about the plan, design, cost, and options.
The proposed ice arena overhaul is estimated to cost between $10.4 million and $11.5 million and will include a complete stripping of everything except the building’s skeleton. The rebuild will add approximately 7,000 square feet and make the building thermally efficient for year-round use. The ice arena overhaul is part of a multi-million dollar BOPARC renovation plan that includes the development of the Marilla Pool.
But Matthew Nelson with the Morgantown Hockey Association told council members that closing the program for a season would splinter the local program. Over the years, the program has grown to about 200 kids that depend on being able to practice and play regularly. Nelson made it clear hockey players need the ability to skate and practice technique.
“Those for whom the rink is built and who the program exists to help will probably be lost forever,” Nelson said. “You’ll end up with a building that has no real purpose anymore because we have no one to fill it.”
Kristen Dieffenbach, Executive Director of the WVU Center for Applied Coaching and Sports Sciences, also cautioned the council about the unintentional consequences a closure would have on younger players.
“Hockey is one of the few things our kids had as a stable source of activity during COVID,” Dieffenbach said. “We were able to stay on the ice and play during COVID, so that is even more important to our kids as they emerge from that space and as they emerge from that sense of unrest in their childhood.”
President of the Morgantown Hockey Association, Frank Oliverio, also explained the critical nature of player development for young players. Oliverio said if the city closed tennis courts, we could find more, or if one pool closed, another could be kept open, but this will remove the only option many young players have.
“We can dribble in our backyard; we can toss a football; we can shoot baskets in our garage; whatever,” Oliverio said. “You cannot duplicate skating on ice for a child, especially below the age of 12, and you are never getting those years back.”
One after another, members of the public asked the council to pause the plan, allow the design to be reviewed, and keep the local programs intact. Still, many questioned the scope and cost of the project and why a second playing surface couldn’t be added like most facilities in the region. Without a second playing surface, the facility would not likely draw tournaments and could not realize the potential of a Division I NCAA community.
Player Teegan Rymer agreed with the line of speakers and added her own acknowledgment.
“I think that says that everyone thinks the same and there are no disagreements on this,” Rymer said.
The last speaker of the evening was WVU baseball coach Randy Mazey, who said he was speaking for the children. Mazey also urged councilors to listen to people who will use the facility to make sure it meets current and future needs.
“All you’re really telling the people in the community is that you don’t care,” Mazey said. “That’s what you’re telling all the people that have come up here, all the kids, the moms, the figure skaters, is that we just don’t care what you have to say.”
The collection of funds for the project began back in 2016 with the county-wide parks and recreation levy, where they received over $2.5 million. Funds will also be used from the city’s one percent sales tax, with BOPARC receiving one-quarter of the approximately $8.8 million in tax revenues from last fiscal year.
Deputy Mayor Danielle Trumble expressed frustration with the way information about the closure was released. Trumble went on to say she would welcome any input from the community.
Under the proposal, the ice arena will close at the conclusion of the current ice season (March 26) and is projected to fully reopen in August 2024. BOPARC is projecting lead times on components such as an ice chiller unit and HVAC equipment to be received within the next 6 to 10 months. BOPARC is reporting COVID-19-caused delays in the manufacturing and shipping markets as the main catalyst for the delays.