Baltimore County officials hope the next Kimmie Meissner is from their turf.
Armed with golden shovels, they broke ground Monday on what will become the county?s first indoor ice arena, a $6 million, 58,000-square-foot public facility in Reisterstown that will also house a separate artificial-turf field. They touted the project as a unique opportunity to boost interest in ice sports and make money.
“It?s 75 degrees and sunny, but I?m ready for the ice,” said Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, District 2, donning a wool hat and scarf.
The facility is expected to open next January at Reisterstown Regional Park and will compete with indoor rinks in Howard County?s Columbia, Harford County and York, Pa.
Revenue Authority Director George Hale acknowledged the project is a difficult endeavor for the Revenue Authority, a tax-exempt company that manages the county?s golf courses and parking garages. The arena was expected to cost $5 million, but Hale approached lawmakers in January to request additional funds. Still, Hale said costs are within affordability limits, and profits are still expected to reach $152,000 annually.
The county tapped Rink Management Services Corp., the largest operator of ice rinks in the country, to manage daily operations. The company, according to President Thomas Hillgrove, manages a dozen other publicly subsidized arenas. Many struggle, he said.
“It?s a very difficult business,” Hillgrove said. “But we?re like the Southwest Airlines of ice arenas. We?ve figured out how to make it work.”
Skating enthusiasts praised the rink?s location. The park offers the “silent marketing” of existing athletic fields, said John Cole, a board member of the Baltimore Figure Skating Club and an international figure-skating judge.
“There?s untapped potential,” Cole said. “I know the figure-skating community is well aware this is going on. There?s been quite a bit of buzz about it.”
