Alan Mayberry Letter to the Editor

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:30 pm

Warthog wrote:Reading through some of the comments, I get the feeling that there are feelings that the University has some responsibility to provide a facility for the city's youth hockey program to use. If there was a similar youth football program in BG, would you expect the university to provide a facility for it? Does the university provide Anderson Arena for any youth basketball programs (besides Jr. Falcons)?

You guys probbaly know I am not a hockey fan, but don't discount my question. I looking for an honest answer. Since I am not involved with the hockey, I would like to hear the explanation.

And realize that the BGYHA is one customer of the BGSU Ice Arena. One of many. Then realize that in business, usually you will give your biggest customer as much as you can before you have to say "Enough, we have other customers to worry about." Think about this for awhile, then reread my previous post.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:56 pm

I just re-read the letter and two points stand out. First, he mentions that the community would lose revenue due to events not taking place at the ice arena. Shouldn't the community then be responsible for an arena instead of throwing it all on the University? Second, he mentions a concern about increasing rates for ice rental. Well, if there are not funds available now to perform repairs/improve the facility, wouldn't a rate increase be reasonable to help generate some cash?

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:24 am

Warthog wrote:I just re-read the letter and two points stand out. First, he mentions that the community would lose revenue due to events not taking place at the ice arena. Shouldn't the community then be responsible for an arena instead of throwing it all on the University? Second, he mentions a concern about increasing rates for ice rental. Well, if there are not funds available now to perform repairs/improve the facility, wouldn't a rate increase be reasonable to help generate some cash?

Warthog - You are on track and get two gold stars.

Two Words - Economic Development

The University, the City and the County should team together and develop a plan to renovate or build a new facility. All three entities have a vested interest in have a bigger, better, nicer facility in town. It would be a shared or contracted responsibility. ie. The University might own the land and maintain it, a new entity responding to all three juridication (funded by all 3) would manage it, and all would benefit. Think beyond hockey - think convention center, concert venue, and so on. It might be a 30 or 50 year agreement.

<In my best Baptist Preacher voice.>
You posters who want to point fingers at this group or that group...... don't let the Devil in . Look to the Light....... DECENDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN OF HOPE...... Glory be..... it is Him....... And he says.... Forget your past trangressions..... forgive your enemies...... Pick-up and FOLLOW ME to the new glory that is a GLORIOUS NEW GOLD EDIFICE WITH TWO.... I said TWO SHIMMERING SHEETS OF OLYMPIC ICE......

I see children skating, laughing. I see families enjoying the company of each other. I see young men in Brown and Orange checking the Devil in Green. I see youth tournaments, product shows... I think I see Elvis singing Gospel songs (it might be Green Day).......... I see a bright future where people come to Bowling Green, the land of Milk, Honey, and Hockey, to rent hotel rooms, dine in our restuarants, buy our sweatshirts....... to skate on our heavenly ice.

SAY IT WITH ME.......HALLELUIA!!!

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:30 am

Tech83 wrote:SAY IT WITH ME.......HALLELUIA!!!

Amen Brother!

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:46 am

Tech83 wrote: <In my best Baptist Preacher voice.>
You posters who want to point fingers at this group or that group...... don't let the Devil in . Look to the Light....... DECENDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN OF HOPE...... Glory be..... it is Him....... And he says.... Forget your past trangressions..... forgive your enemies...... Pick-up and FOLLOW ME to the new glory that is a GLORIOUS NEW GOLD EDIFICE WITH TWO.... I said TWO SHIMMERING SHEETS OF OLYMPIC ICE......

I see children skating, laughing. I see families enjoying the company of each other. I see young men in Brown and Orange checking the Devil in Green. I see youth tournaments, product shows... I think I see Elvis singing Gospel songs (it might be Green Day).......... I see a bright future where people come to Bowling Green, the land of Milk, Honey, and Hockey, to rent hotel rooms, dine in our restuarants, buy our sweatshirts....... to skate on our heavenly ice.

SAY IT WITH ME.......HALLELUIA!!!

Tech, get yourself a lawyer. I'm suing you for injuries sustained in my attempt to run through a brick wall.

AMEN!

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:57 am

A sheet of ice has been considered as an addition to the new community center. Either that or a swimming pool. I'm not sure if a decision has been made yet, or not.

I also believe that, in the past, the university has discouraged the erection of another ice facility in the community, and, to date, the community has complied. Given this discussion among others, it seems that the problem is coming to a head and forces either need to be joined to solve it, or other, less desirable solutions will result.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:40 am

Selfishly, I would rather see a pool at the Community Center. But the city already has a pool at the City Park and there are two indoor pools at the Rec Center. Given that there is just one sheet of ice in the area, the better business decision might be to add ice to the Community Center.

Rod Fausnaugh · Post by **Rod Fausnaugh** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:46 pm

I have not heard of the university discouraging a community owned sheet but it does make sense. The biggest source of income to the ice arena is of course the Falcons. 2000 paid admissions of varied costs twice a weekend brings in serious cash. But that is seasonal. The second biggest, I would guess, would be the youth hockey program, a community driven organization that may leave if there were another sheet. After that figure skating, another community program, and plain old open skating, again another area that business could be lost.

I had not heard of the rumors of a sheet at the community center, or a pool for that matter. That whole building seems a monumental waste to me. I drive past it daily from work and the parking lot is rarely more than a tenth full. As a whole I fear the community has no use for that facility as it now functions. (Not that an Ice arena would change that, a pool maybe)

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:14 pm

It's a really nice facility and its use has steadily risen since its construction. There's much more there than just work out rooms and such. I learned of the consideration for a sheet of ice or pool when we first got our family membership. Cost wise, of course, a pool would be much less expensive....need wise, however....

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:31 pm

I love the Community Center. I am there 3-5 times a week. And I would agree that the memebership is slowing increasing based on the availability of equipment. I wish they stayed open later than 9:00 though.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:44 pm

Rod Fausnaugh wrote:I have not heard of the university discouraging a community owned sheet but it does make sense. The biggest source of income to the ice arena is of course the Falcons. 2000 paid admissions of varied costs twice a weekend brings in serious cash. But that is seasonal. The second biggest, I would guess, would be the youth hockey program, a community driven organization that may leave if there were another sheet. After that figure skating, another community program, and plain old open skating, again another area that business could be lost.

Technically, the Hockey Team rents the Ice Arena for games and practices. The ice time is factored into the budget for the team. The Ice Arena does not see any difference in income if there are 5,000 people in the stands, or 50. The same goes for high school hockey and the Ice Horizons. The ice is rented and admission prices cover that cost. This is why the University has a marketing department. They are the ones who put the people in the stands. Not the Ice Arena.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:29 pm

Warthog wrote:I love the Community Center. I am there 3-5 times a week. And I would agree that the memebership is slowing increasing based on the availability of equipment. I wish they stayed open later than 9:00 though.

Unfortunately if you don't live within the city limits you do not qualify as a "resident". I live 2 miles outside of town with a BG address, but would have to pay the extra $150 to be a member. I guess this makes sense given that I don't pay BG taxes.

That price difference means that I go to the Rec instead...it's cheaper and the eye candy is better

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:08 pm

hammb wrote: That price difference means that I go to the Rec instead...it's cheaper and the eye candy is better

I can vouch for that!

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:34 pm

hammb wrote:and the eye candy is better

One word for you: MILF!

I knew there are discounts for people that live/work in BG, but I thought I heard someone at the desk mention they would give the discounted price for just about anything. Then again, I may have been dizzy from working out so hard and can't remember what they really said.

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:04 pm

Warthog wrote:I knew there are discounts for people that live/work in BG, but I thought I heard someone at the desk mention they would give the discounted price for just about anything. Then again, I may have been dizzy from working out so hard and can't remember what they really said.

If you work in town, but live outside, you can get the discount and yes, they are generous about it! We live outside the city limits, but I work at the BGSU graduations 3 times a year and they give us the discount on our family membership. That is the only "in town" thing either of us do to qualify for that discount, but I am pretty happy they give it to us!!