(Spirit Lake)—Fundraising efforts to build an ice arena in Spirit Lake are getting a major boost. It was announced last (Mon.) evening that a major donor has purchased naming rights to the facility that’s under construction just northwest of the Bedell Family YMCA. Mitch Brandt of the Lakes Area Hockey Association tells KUOO news this will allow them to move on to other phases of the project…(click here for comment.) “Dan Wells and Boji Bay have come together and supported our efforts to bring an ice arena to the area. And with that, they’re committing to purchasing that for $240,000. It’s a ten year commitment to that figure over that period so it puts us on rock solid base to allow us to bridge from each project, each phase and each task that we do it gives us the funding to be successful in doing that.”
In a statement, the Wells family says it views the donation as a way of paying back the community and that it will help support a project that reflects family values and healthy living.
Now that the shell of the building is complete, Brandt says the next phase is to purchase and install refrigeration equipment. He says their goal is to have the equipment up and running by this coming October…(click here for comment.) “That will allow us to have ice for a full season of use which is really considered in the hockey world or skating world as October through March. We did have a modified rink in place with natural ice in January, February and we were open for public skating on Friday night and we probably, I would say, about 125 kids and adults is what we had out on the ice on those Fridays, so it was very fun to see.”
Once the refrigeration part of the project is complete, Brandt says they’ll focus on locker rooms and lobby.
Brandt emphasizes the fact the ice arena project will benefit not only the lakes area, but surrounding communities as well. And he feels it will also serve as a tool for economic development in the region…(click here for comment.) “We have kids that come in from Harris, Iowa to participate, we have kids from Estherville, Spencer and the lakes area. So when you look at that area you know we have over 30,000 residents in that area. And I think everyone when asked by someone outside that area if we have a rink, they’ll say yeah, we have a rink. And I think when you look at businesses that are probably doing some recruiting, Polaris, Eatons, GK out of Estherville. If they’re doing recruiting and somebody said they’re trying to bring in some talent, what do you do in the winter? Do you have a rink? They say yeah, we have a rink. It’s in Spirit Lake. And so I think this is a big issue in terms of making that statement, that it is a rink that’s going to service this area and these businesses.”
Brandt says they still have sponsorships available. More information is available on line at www.lakeshockey.com.
