HOCKEY RENOVATIONS OFFICALLY ON HOLD
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:39 pm
Per the Sentinel-Tribune:
http://www.sent-trib.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=81
Renovations to the BGSU Ice Arena have been put on hold, arena director Buddy Powers said Monday.
The university originally had announced a $4 million renovation of the building would begin this spring.
But the university has put the project on hold because of the overall state of its budget and the rising cost of borrowing money.
The situation is expected to be re-evaluated in the spring.
Part of the $4 million was going to be used to replace “everything tied into the making of the ice,” Powers said.
The project also was going to seal the building and repair the arena’s gutters, downspouts and roof to stop the arena’s numerous leaks.
Also scheduled to be worked on were the air handling system and the lighting.
“This just means our guys will have to keep doing a good job of maintaining the facility,” Powers said. “We have a lot of old equipment and they get it repaired quickly.”
Construction of the arena started in the spring of 1965 and the building was dedicated on Feb. 25, 1967. Some of the equipment in the building is the original equipment.
The three compressors used to maintain the ice are 25 years old. Powers said one of the compressors is given “a major overhaul” each year.
“That keeps them running in a good manner,” Powers said,
Powers said the compressors have a lifespan of 15 years. But because of their age, replacements parts have to be specifically made for the compressors since they’re no longer available.
Powers said he doesn’t believe the compressors are in danger of failing, forcing the ice to be unplayable.
“Everything’s in good shape and we don’t anticipate any problems,” Powers said. “It would take something catastrophic and that could happen in any arena.”
Powers said the main sheet can be maintained for “a short period of time” with just one compressor.
Powers also hoped to improve the studio ice and the curling ice, and put up boards on the curling ice to allow youth games to be played there. The project also included additional locker rooms with showers.
“We just want to see how far the $4 million will go and then it comes down to a prioritization of what we can do,” Powers said. “We need to bring our facility into 2009.”
The arena has just four locker rooms with showers, although several other smaller rooms in the building are being used as locker rooms without showers.
One of the four locker rooms belongs to the Falcon hockey team.
During high school tournaments, teams sometimes start in one dressing room and then move into another one so they can shower after the game.
“We need to expand the number of locker rooms to help us with the number of high school and youth tournaments we host,” Powers said.
In addition to the university’s $4 million renovation project, the school and athletics department are trying to raise an extra $4 million for renovations to benefit the Falcon hockey program.
University spokesman Dave Kielmeyer said Monday that athletics director Greg Christopher told him on Jan. 26 that $400,000 of the extra $4 million had been raised.
“The renovation is an exciting piece,” Falcon hockey coach Scott Paluch said. “It’s something you want to get done as soon as possible, but we certainly understand the economic times and the decisions made. Hopefully, we can get it moving soon.”
The condition of the arena is one reason the Falcon program has slipped to the bottom of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association after winning the NCAA title in 1984.
Aside from the north end seats added for the start of the 1989-90 season and new coaches offices and new boards and lighting two years ago, little has been done by the university to improve the condition of the building.
The addition on the northeast corner of the arena was paid for by private donations.
On the other hand, many schools have built new or renovated their facilities, leaving Bowling Green far behind in the recruiting battle.
“We’re still working on the fact we’re optimistic that it’s still going to get done at some point,” Paluch said. “Our recruiting efforts haven’t changed very much.
“I still believe our overall experience at Bowling Green, there’s more to it. We have a tradition and we want to get to that point. We want players to understand that we have a quality education and we play college hockey in what we feel is the best conference in America.”
http://www.sent-trib.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=81
Renovations to the BGSU Ice Arena have been put on hold, arena director Buddy Powers said Monday.
The university originally had announced a $4 million renovation of the building would begin this spring.
But the university has put the project on hold because of the overall state of its budget and the rising cost of borrowing money.
The situation is expected to be re-evaluated in the spring.
Part of the $4 million was going to be used to replace “everything tied into the making of the ice,” Powers said.
The project also was going to seal the building and repair the arena’s gutters, downspouts and roof to stop the arena’s numerous leaks.
Also scheduled to be worked on were the air handling system and the lighting.
“This just means our guys will have to keep doing a good job of maintaining the facility,” Powers said. “We have a lot of old equipment and they get it repaired quickly.”
Construction of the arena started in the spring of 1965 and the building was dedicated on Feb. 25, 1967. Some of the equipment in the building is the original equipment.
The three compressors used to maintain the ice are 25 years old. Powers said one of the compressors is given “a major overhaul” each year.
“That keeps them running in a good manner,” Powers said,
Powers said the compressors have a lifespan of 15 years. But because of their age, replacements parts have to be specifically made for the compressors since they’re no longer available.
Powers said he doesn’t believe the compressors are in danger of failing, forcing the ice to be unplayable.
“Everything’s in good shape and we don’t anticipate any problems,” Powers said. “It would take something catastrophic and that could happen in any arena.”
Powers said the main sheet can be maintained for “a short period of time” with just one compressor.
Powers also hoped to improve the studio ice and the curling ice, and put up boards on the curling ice to allow youth games to be played there. The project also included additional locker rooms with showers.
“We just want to see how far the $4 million will go and then it comes down to a prioritization of what we can do,” Powers said. “We need to bring our facility into 2009.”
The arena has just four locker rooms with showers, although several other smaller rooms in the building are being used as locker rooms without showers.
One of the four locker rooms belongs to the Falcon hockey team.
During high school tournaments, teams sometimes start in one dressing room and then move into another one so they can shower after the game.
“We need to expand the number of locker rooms to help us with the number of high school and youth tournaments we host,” Powers said.
In addition to the university’s $4 million renovation project, the school and athletics department are trying to raise an extra $4 million for renovations to benefit the Falcon hockey program.
University spokesman Dave Kielmeyer said Monday that athletics director Greg Christopher told him on Jan. 26 that $400,000 of the extra $4 million had been raised.
“The renovation is an exciting piece,” Falcon hockey coach Scott Paluch said. “It’s something you want to get done as soon as possible, but we certainly understand the economic times and the decisions made. Hopefully, we can get it moving soon.”
The condition of the arena is one reason the Falcon program has slipped to the bottom of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association after winning the NCAA title in 1984.
Aside from the north end seats added for the start of the 1989-90 season and new coaches offices and new boards and lighting two years ago, little has been done by the university to improve the condition of the building.
The addition on the northeast corner of the arena was paid for by private donations.
On the other hand, many schools have built new or renovated their facilities, leaving Bowling Green far behind in the recruiting battle.
“We’re still working on the fact we’re optimistic that it’s still going to get done at some point,” Paluch said. “Our recruiting efforts haven’t changed very much.
“I still believe our overall experience at Bowling Green, there’s more to it. We have a tradition and we want to get to that point. We want players to understand that we have a quality education and we play college hockey in what we feel is the best conference in America.”
