February 2, 2012


Early Birds Get the Best Booths!
Ice arena builder/suppliers and vendors will soon be receiving the 2012 ISI Trade Show prospectus in the mail. In the meantime, get a head start on booth selection and registration here.

It’s a Conference! It’s a Vacation! It’s Both!
Hosting our annual conference and trade show in the heart of the top U.S. destination was no coincidence. We all have time and budget limitations, yet everybody benefits from a break — so why not combine your annual professional conference with a vacation? The conference hotel is in the heart of the Downtown Disney® Area, within walking distance of many popular amenities and attractions. The resort is also close to a number of other top attractions including Seaworld, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, Kennedy Space Center and Daytona, Cocoa and Clearwater beaches. Orlando is an ideal destination for your family or friends to join you, and you can even extend your stay and take advantage of the Hilton’s ISI group rate (for a limited time). Register for conference now and save $100!

Conference Championships Returns
Back by popular demand, the ISI Conference Championships national skating competition will be held May 26-28, Memorial Day weekend preceding conference, at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den in Orlando. Entry and test deadline is March 1.

Schedule and Forms Now Online
Winter Classic is almost here, and we’re ready! The event schedule is now posted, so be sure to check regularly for updates before the event weekend, Feb. 17-19. The judge schedule request form is ready to be downloaded and returned to the ISI office by Feb. 6. Practice ice information is also posted.

Register Tests Easily and Quickly
with FREE weSKATE Software
The new weSKATE 3.0 Class Management Software with ISILink – available to ISI administrative members at no charge – features the ability to submit test registrations to ISI. You can add test completions directly from the skaters record using the convenient test drop-down menu. The system is designed to prevent duplication. Test registration has never been easier or quicker. For information on downloading the program, click here.

Synchro Entries Now Due
ISI Synchronized Championships entries are now due. If you haven’t sent yours in yet, please be sure they are faxed to the ISI office at (972) 735-8815 by the end of the day Friday. We look forward to seeing you and your teams in St. Louis March 30-April 1. Don’t miss the third annual Synchro Showcase on March 31!

Earn Certification That Gets
Attention and Results
The 2012 iAIM Certification Schools are set for Sept. 23-27 at the Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, W.V. Sign up for the operations, management or programming track and earn professional industry certification that gets both attention and results. iAIM is presented through a partnership between ISI, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the National Training Center at Oglebay.

PCA's Child Abuse Prevention
Webinars Start Tonight
Everyone is talking about the topic of child abuse in youth sports, and ISI partner PCA (Positive Coaching Alliance) is doing something about it by hosting educational webinars on the topic for youth sports coaches, leaders and parents. You can register here for the first webinar (Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) geared toward coaches and leaders or you can register here for the second webinar (Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) geared toward sports parents. Anyone is welcome to attend either session. Both webinars will be moderated by PCA founder Jim Thompson and will feature experts in the field of child abuse prevention. The webinars will address such specifics as:

  • What should a coach do if she/he suspects child abuse by anyone?
  • What can I teach kids about how to protect themselves from abuse?
  • What can I say to parents and other coaches about our team's stand on keeping kids safe from bullying, abuse and other violence?
 

Industry News is compiled from national media reports and member submissions. Please send news to editor@skateisi.org.

California Refrigerant Management
Program Now in Effect
A California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation is in effect for stationary refrigeration systems that use 50 pounds or more of high global-warming potential refrigerants. The regulation, known as the Refrigerant Management Program, also requires distributors, wholesalers and reclaimers of any amount of high global-warming refrigerant to register and submit annual reports by March 1. For information on registration and reporting requirements, go to www.arb.ca.gov/StopRefrigerantLeaks, email reftrackinfo@arb.ca.gov or call (916) 324-2517.

Yost Arena Renovations Planned
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan‘s board of regents is considering additional renovations to Yost Ice Arena. The board approved a facelift for Yost in October and is looking at a $14 million project to replace seating on the south, east and west sides of the arena to improve accessibility. The existing press box will be converted into loge boxes with a new press box above. Improvements will also be made to the east and west concourses.
Source: Detroit Free Press

Ice Rink Proposed
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford University alumni took less than a day to pledge the $25,000 needed for a feasibility study on plans to build an on-campus ice arena. The university’s club ice hockey team envisions a facility with multiple ice sheets, training space for other sports, and recreational opportunities for students at a cost of as much as $20 million. Ice hockey team members currently travel to Redwood City twice a week for midnight practices, and Olympic figure skater Rachel Flatt must commute to San Jose and Oakland for twice-daily practices.
Source: The Stanford Daily

Residents to Vote on New Arena
STOWE, Vt. – Residents of Stowe will vote March 6 on a $6.5 million proposal to replace aging Jackson Ice Arena with a year-round, multipurpose arena. A similar proposal was narrowly defeated last year. Supporters of the new plan say Stowe needs a high-quality rink. Critics question the $6.5 million cost in a weak economy. Four of the five select board members support the rink plan.
Source: Stowe Reporter

Ice Arena Design Approved
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The board of trustees at Penn State University has approved the design submitted for the new $89 million multipurpose Pegula Ice Arena that will be home to the university’s men’s and women’s NCAA Division I hockey programs. Construction is set to begin in mid-February with a finish date scheduled for September 2013. The project is funded by an $88 million donation from Terrence and Kim Pegula. The dual-sheet arena will be a year-round recreational and educational facility used by the university, community and people throughout central Pennsylvania. The main rink will seat 6,000 spectators and the community rink, with seating for 300, is expected to be open 14-20 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility will have three levels: event level, main concourse level and balcony level or club and suite level.
Sources: Daily Collegian, College of Communications at Penn State, Penn State University Athletics, Penn State Live

World’s Largest Standalone Building Includes Ice Rink
CHENGDU, China – When finished later this year, the New Century Global Centre reportedly will be the world’s largest standalone structure. The leisure complex will house an ice rink, two 1,000-room five-star hotels, vast shopping malls, a luxury Imax cinema, a 20,000-capacity indoor marine park with 400 meters of “coastline,” a “beach” and a “seaside village.” Chengdu is located in southwest China.
Source: Newsvine.com

Hockey Group Hopes to Save Arena
WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. – The West St. Paul City Council has granted hockey groups a one-year reprieve to allow them time for fundraising to save the city’s ice arena. The city planned to close the 40-year-old arena this spring but recently extended the deadline for closing until March 2013. The arena needs a new roof and structural supports, at an estimated cost of $350,000 to $500,000. City officials have ruled out building a new arena and plan to tear the old one down if supporters do not raise the money to fund the needed repairs. The city is still paying off about $700,000 from renovations made to the arena in 1997.
Sources: Minneapolis Star Tribune, WCCO-TV Channel 14

Upgrades Planned for Center
WORCESTER, Mass. – The 30-year-old, city-owned DCU Center is slated to undergo $20 million in renovations and expansion this year. A new glass exterior wall will enhance the building’s visual appeal and enable it to complement its surroundings. Improvements will be made to heating, ventilation and cooling systems; a new dehumidification system will be installed; and upgrades will be made to restrooms and concessions. The 15,000-seat arena is home to the Worcester Sharks, a hockey team that develops players for the San Jose Sharks. The arena will remain open during construction.
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Land Approved for New Rink
SUPERIOR, Colo. – Superior’s board of trustees has approved an agreement that will allow 10 acres of land owned by the town to be used as the site for a new 143,000-square-foot ice rink and sports center. The $18 million arena will feature two NHL-size ice rinks, pro shop, community room, gym, restaurant, Starbucks and 1,000 fold-down spectator seats. Ground could be broken on the project this summer with completion by fall 2013. The developer on the project is Luke Taylor, owner and operator of The Ice Ranch in Littleton. The new facility reportedly will be named The Ice Ranch at Boulder Valley or The Ice Ranch at Superior and will be co-owned and managed by Taylor. The town plans to use up to $2 million in property tax increment financing to help fund the project; the developer will be required to construct roads, supply utilities and provide landscaping and drainage for the site. The 25,000-square-foot Boulder Valley Ice at Superior will be demolished when the new facility is complete.
Sources: Boulder Daily Camera, Denver Post