| Hartmeyer Ice Arena Renovation |
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Madison North Side ice arena gets first major upgrades in four decades
For many seasons, Hartmeyer Ice Arena on the city's North Side has been having problems with its ice sheet. The permafrost — the sand foundation the ice sheet rested on — was damaged and caused the ice to shift and bulge.
Skating conditions were poor, and sometimes one end of the ice would be much thicker than the other, said Gary Shuchuk, the executive director of the group that manages the rink, Madison Ice Inc. "We had the state hockey tournament in March, and it was hard to make sure the ice stayed playable," Madison Ice marketing director Andrea Chaffee said. In warmer months, the sand permafrost would thaw, causing the rink to become humid and foggy. Now, that's been replaced with a concrete base, allowing the arena to be open year-round. "Youth hockey numbers keep increasing and there are more and more people interested in skating," said Chaffee. "There's more need for ice time." The renovation also includes additional benches, a new penalty box and score-keeping area, and a new, NHL-sized ice sheet. "People will be surprised when they walk into Hartmeyer," Shuchuk said. "They'll really notice a difference." The rink, at 1834 Commercial Ave., is open to the public and is used by high school hockey teams, youth and adult skating leagues, figure skating classes and for open skating. Shuchuk expects the renovations to be completed and the arena to be opened by late September. The nonprofit Madison Ice also manages the public Madison Ice Arena on the city's West Side. The city's other ice arena is operated by UW-Madison at the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center, more commonly called the Shell, and is also open to the public. Article provided by WSJ: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/301437 |
One of Madison's three ice arenas is getting its first major renovation in more than 40 years.