[PRO] Playford Ice Arena

[Norman]

Ice Rinks Adelaide plans to build a multi-purpose $35 million ice arena in Playford
Richard Evans, The Advertiser
September 7, 2016 7:18pm

ICE skaters in SA can look forward to the biggest ice sports arena in the southern hemisphere if a $35 million project in northern Adelaide gets the go-ahead.
Ice Rinks Adelaide, a consortium fronted by Cruachan investments and backed by heavyweight investors the Southern Cross Group, is planning to build two Olympic size ice rinks side-by-side in Playford within the next two years.

Cruachan director Stephen Campbell said the Playford Arena project will create 100 jobs during construction, and 70 fulltime and ongoing jobs upon completion.
He expects it to bring in up to $7 million annually by attracting world championship ice hockey and figure skating events.

“The City of Playford council is backing it, it will be built to international standards,” he said.

“We will also build a 21 metre high rock climbing wall. Rock climbing was announced last month as an Olympic sport for Tokyo and there has been a big upsurge in interest in the last two years.”

One of the 60 by 30 metre rinks will be for recreational skaters and the other will be the preserve of ice sports which is suffering badly from the outdated Thebarton ice arena which is in danger of being shut down by its owner, David Lee, if cosmetic updates of up to $3 million are not carried out soon.
The future of ice sports in South Australia is under the spotlight as never before, said Mr Campbell, and cannot hope to survive without a fresh facility and approach.

“There is not enough ice time for ice sports to develop with just one facility here. C grade ice hockey teams can’t train during winter because there is not enough time, they have to do it in summer which is out of season,” he said.

“There are simply not enough hours in the day to train on the ice.”

The new venue will be on a 11,700 sqm unused site on the southern corner of the Main North Road and Philip Highway intersection that the City of Playford will sell to the development group, Mr Campbell said.

The multi-purpose venue will also include a 450-seat restaurant overlooking the ice rinks and rock climbing wall plus a dance studio, children’s play area and “winter wonderland”.

“I have spent time investigating similar venues in North America and Europe, every square metre of space will be used for more than one purpose, including the lobby which can be transformed in to a function room,” Mr Campbell said.

The ice hockey arena will be surrounded by 3200 seats over two tiers and 13 rows high.

“An arena cannot survive as a stand alone venue, it has to have different sources,” said Mr Campbell.

“We would like to start building later this year and have it ready for early 2018 to coincide with the February Winter Olympics in South Korea and capitalise on the interest that generates.”

[Nathan]

Well, that'll put paid to the existing Ice Arena's attempt to blackmail more funding from the government.

Wish Anthony Donato Architects would come up with something a little more interesting than a warehouse with some blue paint though.

[SRW]

Fabulous if it goes ahead, though I do wish we had better ice sports facilities more centrally available (Thebarton is a lost cause ).

[Brucetiki]

Please build it!

Agree that Thebarton is all but a lost cause. It seems the current owners are hell bent on redeveloping the site at any cost. First they neglected the large ice to the extent the government had to intervene to ensure the Adrenaline could actually play this season (and would've had a major contribution to their wooden spoon this season). Now they're demanding money for a paint job.

If Playford Arena gets off the ground, then it looks like it will be operated by someone with the interests of ice sport (during the large ice issues earlier this year he was looking at a pop up solution for ice sports while the Ice Arena sat on its hands). Also, with the 3200 seat capacity for the competition ice, and for it to be covered (similar to how many of the NHL venues operate), it can double over as a concert venue as well.

[Brucetiki]

Looks like it's happening

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... d84accd3a5

[Allkai]

A (two even!) local Olympic sized rink would be amazing.

I didn't realise how undersized Thebarton was, before we went to the Icehouse in Melbourne.....

[OlympusAnt]

I approve!

The current Snow Dome really isn't that good and is long overdue for replacement.

[Brucetiki]

According to their most recent Facebook post, looks like they have the full funding for the project (subject to a special Playford council meeting tonight).

Channel 10 reporting construction will start mid-next year but will open by the end of next year (I assume they mean mid this year, can't see it being built in 6 months)

[Goodsy]

According to their most recent Facebook post, looks like they have the full funding for the project (subject to a special Playford council meeting tonight).

Channel 10 reporting construction will start mid-next year but will open by the end of next year (I assume they mean mid this year, can't see it being built in 6 months)

GREEN LIGHT: A new $40 million dollar indoor ice arena and entertainment facility in Elizabeth has been given the green light.

The City of Playford will convene a special council meeting tonight to endorse a $10 million dollar loan from the State Government which will allow the project to start.

The Playford Arena will be the largest multi-purpose ice sports, entertainment, function centre and rock-climbing facility in the southern hemisphere.

Work will start mid next year and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

[Brucetiki]

IceArena have confirmed they will close in 2020 when their current lease expires.

They also mentioned the money being allocated for Playford Arena is money currently assigned to Ice Factor.

Interesting.

[[Shuz]]

Smart move. The current facilities are outdated and in poor condition. They will reap the benefits of selling the site which will no doubt be a significant development opportunity given its proximity to CBD and tramline.

[Nort]

Shame that the Ice Arena is moving away from the city (anyone south of the city wanting to go ice skating is now looking at a massive journey) but the current Ice Arena has been showing the signs of the end coming for many years.

If only Adelaide had the population to support the indoor sledding/ski slope.

[malyzajaczek]

Is it true $40m new Ice Arena was just approved ? Anyone has any details ?

[SBD]

Shame that the Ice Arena is moving away from the city (anyone south of the city wanting to go ice skating is now looking at a massive journey) but the current Ice Arena has been showing the signs of the end coming for many years.

If only Adelaide had the population to support the indoor sledding/ski slope.

One of the people I heard on the radio this morning said they have plans (I think he meant intent) to build one in the southern suburbs as well. He indicated that they are talking with several local councils about it. I wasn't listening carefully enough to tell if it is intended to be essentially identical.

[pushbutton]

What about the Noarlunga ice rink?