My weekend rink's closing... :(

jazzpants · #1 01-21-2007, 03:13 PM

http://www.saveberkeleyiceland.org/?q=node/41

My weekend rink is closing for sure as of March. I knew this day was coming, but I still was hoping someone would come save it at the last minute. Unfortunately, I have a feeling this landmark is going to go condo (like my old childhood rink in San Francisco.) It's gonna be a sad sight either way.

I will probably go to another rink to skate on weekends. Where I will be going permanently will be tough to decide. (Maybe Club Ice at my club's other rink...)

dbny · #2 01-21-2007, 09:16 PM

Aw, I'm really sorry there was no white knight to the rescue.

Mrs Redboots · #3 01-22-2007, 08:44 AM

So am I! It was the practice-rink for the 1998 Adult Nationals, which I visited as a spectator, and the compulsory figure competition (at that time included in ANs) was also held there.

Tiggerwoos · #4 01-22-2007, 08:50 AM

Oh, no I am sorry.

I remember how upset I was as a kid when Richmond Ice Rink closed down and the appeals they ran to get them to build another.

Must be really frustrating and inconvienient for you.

e-skater · #5 01-22-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzpants

http://www.saveberkeleyiceland.org/?q=node/41

My weekend rink is closing for sure as of March. I knew this day was coming, but I still was hoping someone would come save it at the last minute. Unfortunately, I have a feeling this landmark is going to go condo (like my old childhood rink in San Francisco.) It's gonna be a sad sight either way.

My husband used to skate there (hockey style.....) when he was at Berkeley, years (heck, DECADES ) ago. He loved that rink. When he saw the picture up on the computer, he recognized it right away! Sorry to hear (already told you this in another venue, but.....doesn't hurt to say it again), and I hope you are able to work out a new weekend place!

Team Arthritis · #6 01-22-2007, 03:59 PM

Bummer!

I hope that they don't bite at the new place.
Lyle

jazzpants · #7 01-22-2007, 04:40 PM

Yeah. The worst part for me is parting with my weekend rink gang. They're pretty much going to disband and go "wherever their coach is...." One of the ice dancers (who's probably 67-68 years old but still ice dances like he's 30) says that if his coach retires after March then he will likely hang up his skates too. Of course, I heard from another skater who told me this skater will probably end up going to this rink on Sundays along with the other ice dancers, so who knows...

jazzpants · #8 01-22-2007, 07:35 PM

Well, well, well!!!

This was forwarded to me from someone in the St. Moritz Skating Club. (Their home club office is at Berkeley!) And givent the nature of the posting, I'm sure it's okay for me to post here!!! My weekend rink is sure not going to go down w/o a fight, that's for sure!!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tom Killilea <tkiller@netbox.com>
Date: Jan 22, 2007 4:42 PM
Subject: [StMoritz] Press Release - Organization Forming to Save Berkeley Iceland
To: "St. Moritz Group" <StMoritz@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: Tom Killilea < tkiller@netbox.com>

[NOTE: The following press release is being released to a number of
Bay Area media outlets. If you have a suggestion as to where else to
send it please let me know and I'll add it to our list if we haven't
already sent it out. Thanks - Tom K.]

Organization Forming to Save Berkeley Iceland

On 18 January, 2007, East Bay Iceland announced that it will be
closing the doors on the historic Berkeley Iceland Skating Arena on
31 March. A group made up of Berkeley community members and Bay Area
skaters is forming to explore actions which could save the rink and
it's building for future generations. The center for this
organization effort is the web site SaveBerkeleyIceland.org.

The operators of the 67 year old rink were prematurely forced to shut
down the ammonia-based cooling system by the City of Berkeley in
September 2005 after two years of negotiation. Temporary coolers
leased by the owners to keep the rink open have resulted in both
additional costs and appeals to the permit because of noise caused by
the temporary coolers which are outside the facility. With the date
of the original permit due to expire in April, the current owners
decided they could not longer operate the rink at a profit.

The SaveBerkeleyIceland.com group has the goal of building a
community-based organization with the goals to:

* Update and operate the Berkeley Iceland facility so that future
generations can enjoy skating on its international olympic size ice
surface

* Preserve the historic art deco building through local and possibly
State or Federal landmarking.

* Create a destination attraction to draw visitors to South Berkeley
by including expanded facilities for families, skaters and other
athletes, and highlighting its importance to the sport of skating and
hockey on the West Coast.

Opened in 1940 with support from the University of California,
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, and local business and sport interest,
the rink has been the site of three US National Figure Skating
Championships, and practice ice to such skating luminaries as Kristi
Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano and Peggy Flemming. It was the training
facility for many of the US World Figure Skating Team in 1961,
including the legendary coach Maribel V. Owen.

One of the original driving forces for constructing the rink in
Berkeley was the UC Hockey Team and the rink still the home ice for
the current Cal Hockey club. Berkeley Iceland was also the practice
ice for the California Golden Seals, the Bay Area's first NHL team,
and home of the Berkeley Bulldogs of the Northern California Junior
Hockey Association.

Perhaps most importantly, the rink has been a gathering place for all
members of the Berkeley community and it's environs. People from the
current mayor, Tom Bates, to neighborhood kids have gathered at the
rink for generations. It is still a health, safe, and fun hang out
for hundreds of teenagers who pack the rink on Friday and Saturday
nights.

The SaveBerkeleyIceland.org group believes that this is a history
that needs to be preserved and continued. The group is hoping to
organize other individuals and groups who believe that loosing
another historic site in Berkeley - one that provides a lot of good
for the community - should not happen. They encourage everyone
willing to work towards this goal to contact them through the website
http://www.SaveBerkeleyIceland.org or by email at
info@SaveBerkeleyIceland.org.

Press Release Contacts:
Tom Killilea, President, Bay Area Blades
Tel: 510-435-7259 / Email: tkillilea@saveberkeleyiceland.org
Elizabeth Grassetti, President, University Figure Skating Club,
Tel: 510-528-1910 / Email: eegrass@aol.com,

Debbie S · #9 01-22-2007, 09:57 PM

Definitely explore the possibility of getting the building landmarked - if it really is historic, see if it qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places. As far as the "update and operate" part, if the group can raise enough money so that solving the refrigerant problem and managing the facility on a daily basis looks viable, then they have a good argument for keeping it open. Of course, that's a tall order. Has there been any thought or action to get the big-name skaters (Kristi, Peggy, Brian B) or the USFSA involved (b/c of the '61 World team connection)? The big names and USFSA could help with corporate sponsorships to keep the rink afloat - as well as contribute themselves.

jazzpants · #10 02-21-2007, 02:07 PM

Well, it's looking like that there is a non-profit forming that is trying to get corporations to donate to the non-profit to save money.

Also, according to the news clip at our NBC affiliate (Scroll down to "Community Members to Save Berkeley Iceland"), the city is going to landmark this building next month, so it should be interesting.

Okay, you guys! If you know of any companies that are willing to sponsor this non-profit organization, please contact Caroline Winnett from the "Save Berkeley Iceland" website. (And yes, we're getting PLENTY of press locally but I'm doing my part to get the word out too!

)

Isk8NYC · #11 02-21-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzpants

Okay, you guys! If you know of any companies that are willing to sponsor this non-profit organization, please contact Caroline Winnett from the "Save Berkeley Iceland" website. (And yes, we're getting PLENTY of press locally but I'm doing my part to get the word out too!

)

What's the Zamboni company position--isn't Berkeley Iceland the rink where Frank invented the resurfacer?

How is the non-profit going to deal with the environmental deadline? (Skate@Delaware can tell you about the hazards of using ammonia for icemaking.)

jazzpants · #12 02-21-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isk8NYC

What's the Zamboni company position--isn't Berkeley Iceland the rink where Frank invented the resurfacer?

East Bay Iceland, the current parent company of Berkeley Iceland is headed by Richard Zamboni. They want out!

I believe the non-profit's intent is to raise money so they can buy the rink outright and update the current refrigeration system (and a few other things) before someone else does.

Of course, if I win the lottery, I would be owner of the rink

, but I will work with Save Berkeley Iceland to spruce it up.

Mrs Redboots · #13 02-22-2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isk8NYC

What's the Zamboni company position--isn't Berkeley Iceland the rink where Frank invented the resurfacer?

I thought that was the Paramount rink in Los Angeles?

jazzpants · #14 03-11-2007, 10:16 PM

The latest news is that the "Save Berkeley Iceland" is now officially a non-profit org and its mission now is to raise $2 million to buy the rink outright. If you want some form of charitable tax deduction and write off, this is definitely a good one for you.

If you want to donate by writing a check, click on this link. And if you want to donate thru PayPal, click on this link.

sarahmom3 · #15 03-12-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs Redboots

I thought that was the Paramount rink in Los Angeles?

I thought so too. I live close o paramount and I thought it was invented there. The one good thing about the city of paramount,lol !

I'm sorry about the closing of your rink. We have a rumor here that our local rink is going to close too, they are keeping it very hush-hush.

jazzpants · #16 03-01-2008, 11:33 AM

WOO HOO!!! It's looking like the Save Berkeley Iceland is definitely one step closer towards reopening the historic rink again.

I just got this email last night.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tom Killilea <tkiller@netbox.com>
Date: Feb 29, 2008 7:14 PM
Subject: [StMoritz] SBI and EBI in Contract
To: SaveBerkeleyIceland@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Tom Killilea <tkiller@netbox.com>, "St. Moritz St. Moritz Group" <StMoritz@yahoogroups.com>

Hi All -

After a year of effort and work, Save Berkeley Iceland and East Bay
Iceland (the owners) have entered into a formal agreement which will
result in SBI owning our historic community asset, Berkeley Iceland.
SBI will be sending out an official press release on Monday, but the
agreement was signed and put into force today, 29 February 2008. This
agreement gives SBI the exclusive right to acquire Berkeley Iceland,
our biggest accomplishment since SBI started.

Now the real work begins. This is a $12 million, multiyear project to
actually purchase, restore, improve, and operate Berkeley's ice palace
and restoring a beloved hang out to the community. For now we can
take a few days to celebrate this accomplishment and look back and see
how far we have come with the support of so many in this community -
the skaters and hockey players who marched on the City Council, the
scores of folks who came out to testify at the LPC and City Council,
the members of the LPC and City Council as well as others in city
government, the activists in the preservation community, the thousands
of well wishers at the events we participated in, all the contributors
of both effort and money who provided the means for us to carry on,
the Core and directors of SBI, and probably lots more I haven't
mentioned (is the exit music playing yet...).

On behalf of SBI, thank you all for your support which made getting
this far possible. We believe that with this continued support we
will have Berkeley Iceland, our uniquely Berkeley community center,
open and packed with kids again.

Thanks to All - Tom K. / Save Berkeley Iceland

Mrs Redboots · #17 03-01-2008, 11:58 AM

Oh, that is good news! I do hope it all works out.

icedancer2 · #18 03-01-2008, 01:29 PM

That is FANTASTIC!! There is hope after all for some of these older, iconic rinks!!

Terri C · #19 03-01-2008, 01:57 PM

Sweeetttt!!

hepcat · #20 03-01-2008, 03:18 PM

This is wonderful news! Thanks for passing this along - I miss weekend jaunts over to skate and enjoy Berkeley!

dbny · #21 03-01-2008, 08:50 PM

Hip, hip, HOORAY! I want to skate there next time I come out to the West Coast.

kander · #22 03-02-2008, 01:19 AM

Good news! Bezerkely is a great facility. It should be an historic landmark. Does anybody have $12 mil on them???

jazzpants · #23 03-03-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kander

Good news! Bezerkely is a great facility. It should be an historic landmark. Does anybody have $12 mil on them???

It *IS* already a historic landmark (paperwork filed w/ the city of Berkeley.) It just isn't in operation.

(Alright, alright. I'm just pickin' on 'ya on the legality.

)

Maybe one of us should play the Lotto?

Isk8NYC · #24 03-03-2008, 01:07 AM

Congratulations! That's great news!

looplover · #25 03-03-2008, 04:45 AM

That is awesome!!!!!!!!!!

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