Cache Valley’s first ice arena to open Jan. 1
It will soon be time to take to the ice in Cache Valley. After seven years of planning, fund raising and construction, the Bridgerland Community Ice Arena (BCIA) will open Jan. 1, 2002.
This is Cache Valley’s first ice arena and the brain child of Janet Borg, executive director of the ice arena.
Borg said during the last seven years, fund raising has been the most difficult part of the project. She started a non-profit corporation in February 1995 to fund the center’s construction and said $1.1 million still needs to be raised. That money will be used to finish three team rooms, men’s and women’s restrooms, a classroom, landscaping, the parking lot and buy supplies and computer software, Borg said.
She said some of the money was raised through Cache County and its cities.
“Together they raised about half of [the] money needed through a restaurant tax,” she said. “Of the 19 municipalities in Cache Valley, 17 voted to reallocate money to help build the arena.”
Borg said the Logan City Council was one of the first councils to step up with an $800,000 donation. Other donors include Cache Valley Electric, the Axtel family, Lynn’s Audio Video, Campbell Scientific, Wendy’s, Cache Valley Specialty Hospital and Pepsi, she said.
“We are constantly asking people to be founders for the facility,” Borg said.
She said funds were raised at a dinner and auction night. In October, at another fund raiser, people were able to purchase zamboni driving lessons for $250.
Borg said Utah State University was unable to contribute money toward the arena’s construction.
“The university is not in the position to contribute money,” said John Devilbiss, public relations director at USU. “It should not be construed to mean a lack of support for the arena.”
Devilbiss said hockey team members, students and faculty have helped in building and raising funds for the arena.
“The hockey team will be a revenue source for the ice arena,” Devilbiss said.
Passes will be available in January for Olympic practices, Borg said. Some of the coming attractions include a hockey game between Slovakia and Switzerland and performances by the Russian figure skaters, she said.
“It will be a thrill to see people do quadruple jumps,” Borg said.
She said the men’s world champion and the women’s silver medalist who are both Russian, will both be performing at the BCIA. Passes will cost $40. However, practices will be free and open to the public.
Borg began skating in her late 20s and competed as an adult division skater. She said after she realized kids wanted to learn how to ice skate, she began to research the process of building an ice arena.
“It struck me that if Casper, Wyo., and Helena, Mont., could have ice arenas, then why not Cache Valley,” Borg said.
Borg said she researched and studied 30 rinks and employed Hogan and Associates and Stanley/Caine to design and build the arena.
The BCIA has a total of 48,000 square feet, of which, 20,000 square feet are ice, she said. The building was also designed to accommodate a second building and additional ice if demand increases, she said.
“I would love to see that,” Borg said.
The BCIA is located at 2825 N. 200 East in North Logan. Admission for general skate time will be $3 for a two-hour session. Skate rental will cost $1.50. Borg said all money will go to support the facility.
When the ice arena opens in January, Borg will step down as executive director and Ty Newberry, manager of the arena will take over as executive director, she said.
“This is what I planned from the beginning of the project,” Borg said.