MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Options are still on the table to keep hockey alive and well in Morgantown while renovations to the Ice Arena are being completed, but on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Morgantown Deputy Mayor Danielle Trumble said the closure plan shouldn’t have been a surprise following the special BOPARC meeting during the last week of 2022.
Trumble said a statement was released the following day, and the same information was posted on their website.
“It said in no uncertain terms that we are closing down at the end of March and will reopen in August of 2024,” Trumble said. “It details the conversation with the Mills Group after the meeting, and it said we are still working on a temporary solution and we will meet in the middle or end of January.”
Contractors explained to officials that the only way to preserve a portion of a season would be to renovate the existing slab in the off-season, play the next season, then demolish the existing building over the newly renovated rink. The other option was to preorder critical components and delay the start of construction to accommodate the hockey season.
None of the options appeared reasonable to the group.
“Contractors are very uncomfortable putting in a bid now for work that will not start for more than a year, and those contractors are tasked with acquiring the components that are very project-specific,” Trumble said.
For weeks, Trumble said officials have been exploring an outdoor temporary sheet of ice or even a suitable building for temporary use.
“We’re exploring sites for that and are in contact with several companies that provide those types of rinks,” Trumble said. “They are trying to get together a good quote for us.”
Trumble said the design phase of the current project is really too far along to make drastic changes with bond sales scheduled in the coming weeks. But she said she does want to hear ideas from all stakeholders while there is a small amount of time to consider changes.
“I think people overestimate how far a little bit of money will go,” Trumble said. “I don’t know what kind of two-sheet rink anyone thinks we’ll be able to get for about $4 million, but I’ll look into that.”
Trumble said meetings are ongoing with all local groups to consider any option to save the season, or a part of it, while still renovating the Morgantown Ice Arena.
“We are committed to working as BOPARC and also with other stakeholders and other partners to figure out what the solution for next season is,” Trumble said. “That’s what our focus is.”