Ice age looms over New Hope

After bearing the bodychecks and slapshots of countless hockey games, New Hope's 34-year-old ice arena needs some serious renovation work.

The city has sought bids to find out how much work it would take and what it would cost to replace the north ice sheet. The sheet was opened in 1975 and its useful life is about spent, said Jim Corbett, recreation facilities manager. He has checked with other cities that are replacing rinks of similar age and size, and said the costs vary from about $900,000 in Alexandria to about $1.5 million in Bloomington.

More than 100,000 people a year visit New Hope's arena, which is home to one Armstrong and two Cooper high school hockey teams. The arena also had a starring role in "The Mighty Ducks" motion picture, filmed in 1992.

A south ice sheet was added in 1996. The arena, at 4949 Louisiana Av., also hosts high school league and youth tournaments.

The city has sent bid requests to 36 firms for an engineering study; it wants to determine the costs of replacing the north ice sheet, remodeling the community room, upgrading locker rooms and the indoor walking track, and making other improvements. The bids are due Friday.

"We want some honest numbers for what needs to be done and what we can afford to do," said Mayor Kathi Hemken. "It needs repair, we know that." She said the city will apply for a grant from Xcel Energy to help pay for the engineering study and will seek grants for the renovation. The city might make improvements over several years to spread out the cost, she said. The city could sell bonds or use other recreation funds, officials said.

New Hope already has applied for a $711,500 local government capital improvement grant that legislators will review in the upcoming session, said Shari French, parks and recreation director.

The arena lost $110,584 in 2008, but $102,000 of that was for non-cash depreciation, said Steve McDonald, an accountant hired by the city, which is without a finance director. He said the arena's operations fund dropped by $6,100 to $124,992.

To offset the loss, the City Council increased ice time rates in September to $191 for prime time, French said. She said the council is expected to give final approval in December to a $60 increase for arena community room use to $300 per event for resident groups of 50 or more.

The council also retained Carlson Sports Marketing to sell advertisements posted on Zambonis and inside the two rinks. Advertising revenue will be split with the city, French said.

Corbett said many cities built ice rinks in the 1970s that now need floor and refrigeration work.

Coon Rapids is considering whether to replace its Cook Arena, built in 1973, with a rink in a proposed community center. Last month, Edina approved the sale of $2.4 million in bonds for major upgrades next year to two rinks in Braemar Arena, opened in 1965.