Cool collaborations: ice arenas built out of mutually beneficial partnerships between hockey teams and park districts.

When two or more entities share a project vision and merge resources to make it a reality, the results can offer win-win opportunities for all involved, attaining economies that would have unlikely been realized by each party operating independently. This philosophy has evolved out of two, new Midwest ice arenas, which are the result of joint efforts among different groups with the same vision: high-quality ice in a facility appointed with modern amenities.

In Hoffman Estates, Ill., for example, a partnership between the community's park district and the Chicago Wolves Hockey team was formed to yield a new ice facility in the form of a $12.5 million expansion and renovation to an existing community center. The new space was designed for Hoffman Estate Park District employees' offices, as well as new fitness space for the community center.

Central to the project at the Black-hawk Community Center, though, are the two professional-grade ice rinks that accommodate 800 spectators, and are supported by locker facilities and operations offices for the Chicago Wolves, an American Hockey League (AHL) West Division team that needed a new practice venue.

"This project is not only an exceptional example of a public/private-sector initiative, but what further sets it apart is that the private-sector player is such a well-recognized organization," says Michael T. Williams, principal and chief executive officer of the architecture firm charged with developing a design for an ice arena that would meet facility requirements for each of the two organizations.

Mutual Understanding

The Chicago Wolves team was established 10 years ago as an International Hockey League franchise, and went on to capture two Turner Cup Championships before jumping to the AHL, where the team garnered the Calder Cup Championship in 2002. While the Wolves play regular season home games at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, the team had been looking for a place to move its practice activities.

"We sought out someone who needed an arena and was interested in what we have to offer," relates Wolves General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff "The partnership with the Hoffman Estates Park District not only gives us an opportunity to promote pure hockey, but creates a training center second to none and puts us on the same level as some National Hockey League teams."

"The Wolves were in the market for a new practice facility," says Dean Bostrom, executive director of the Hoffman Estates Park District. "We were very interested in the prospect because of the opportunities it would provide not just Hoffman Estates residents, but surrounding communities as well. So the driving decision to collaborate was based on a mutual understanding of what each organization could offer the other--but, more importantly, offer the community."

The choice to build a new ice arena with a park district partner, according to Williams, offers significant benefits to both the professional team and the park district. "The Wolves had a keen interest in creating a new practice venue for the team, yet wanted a platform from which to provide teaching and introduce youth hockey development programs."

The Northwest suburban location provides a point from which to launch outreach initiatives that could potentially be expanded throughout the greater Chicago area, Williams says. Indeed, a goal of the Wolves organization is to "promote youth hockey at the grass roots level in the area."

A Running Start

The arrangement offers the park district some distinct advantages, as well. "This joint effort offers the public-sector participant, involved in a relationship with a highly regarded organization, [to] provide financial resources, as well as boost park district programs by sharing athletic skills and talents of its seasoned professionals and managerial staff," says Williams.

Project Manager Kate Ditchman of the architecture firm adds, "Contracting with the Wolves has benefited the park district with added funding."

"The collaboration will give the park district a running start in developing hockey and other skating programs, and promote them in the community," predicts Williams. In addition to figure skating and ice hockey instructional programming, the Hoffman Estates Park District supports a range of league opportunities for community members.

"The ice arena offers twin-sheet ice rinks, and the Wolves will be using only one rink for two hours each morning from September through May when children are in school," explains Bostrom. "The other rink is ours to schedule learn-to-skate programs, rent to ice organizations and host public skating opportunities."

A men's hockey league and a co-ed broomball league serve adult patrons of the park district, while children can participate in "The Wolfpack" in-house hockey league, a program with a "Junior Wolves" curriculum for 9- and 10-year-olds, and a "Pups" curriculum for children aged 5 to 8 years old.

Additionally, the ice arena was designed to incorporate ADA-accessible provisions that allow sled hockey to be played by disabled players. Public and park district spaces at the center include a cafe, skate rental facility and a pro shop.

Spreading the Gospel

Having professional, amateur and educational hockey activity all taking place under one roof is seen as a way to encourage the growth of and appreciation of the sport. "This being the practice arena for the Wolves will be exciting for the public," remarks Ditchman. "Young hockey players will be able to watch and interact with these professional players. The Wolves will provide inspiration for young hockey players."

The opportunity to perform this role, indicates Cheveldayoff, provides a valuable, community relations mechanism for the Wolves' organization, and helps advance what he identifies as a commitment to excellence. "The collaboration will help us spread the gospel of arena hockey and promote the industry," he says.

The Wolves organization, Cheveldayoff explains, plans to assist with on-ice teaching programs of the park district, as well as initiate its own "summer camp" hockey program for area youngsters. Aside from the arrangement's altruistic aspects, the new facility stemming from the relationship represents a huge improvement in the team's training accommodations. While the team had been accustomed to traveling from ice practice to another facility for showers, and yet another location to engage in fitness workouts, the new facility will do away with such a fragmented training approach.

At the Blackhawk Center, the Wolves' space includes a private locker room area featuring lockers and showers, a sauna and steam room, a therapy pool, a medical trainer's facility, a workout room and equipment storage space. "Having that ability for our players off and on ice will dramatically help develop team skills," notes Cheveldayoff of the consolidation, and upgrade, of amenities.

Beyond expanded park district programming opportunities, the new facility is being seen as offering potentially wider community enhancement. "Interested residents and guests will all benefit from learn-to-skate programs that have the Chicago Wolves expertise behind them, but the entire area will benefit from our association," comments Bostrom.

"It was estimated by the Greater Woodfield Convention and Visitor's Bureau that this facility could help boost the local economy by $1 million with various tournaments and events," he continues. "That's a tremendous benefit."

New Ice in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

When Frank Lang's son was a cadet at Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn., the youngster played on the school's hockey team, but not on the school campus. A graduate of affiliate St. Thomas University, real-estate developer Lung saw this arrangement as substantially less than ideal, and set out to spearhead an effort to build a new, modern arena, which would ultimately house the practice and home ice for the boys' hockey program as well as the University of St. Thomas' men's and women's hockey programs.

Built on the Saint Thomas Academy campus on land donated by the school, the new $4 million, 1,000-seat ice arena was realized through private donations from alumni of both institutions, as well as funds raised through revenue bonds. The facility, which opened in fall 2003, features locker rooms for all three teams, as well as a weight training area and "shooting" stations. The facility is also used by area youth hockey teams, and recently was the site of a pre-season United States Hockey League game between the Sioux City Musketeers and the Sioux Falls Stampede. "To my knowledge," says Lang, who served as chairperson of the campaign that realized the new arena, "this is the only venue in the state that hosts high school, college and youth hockey leagues."

Sponsorship Significance

Perhaps these approaches taken in Illinois and Minnesota will be seen as models for other, similar collaborations. The economics of such arrangements certainly suggest that there is an incentive for partnering.

'All government agencies are struggling to balance budgets, since tax funding has become more and more limited with imposed tax caps," relates Hoffman Estates Park District Executive Director Bostrom. "This has left agencies such as park districts to find other revenue sources to help offset costs for new projects. There is a trend in the park district industry to find sponsorship dollars not only for new projects, but for existing ones, as well."

Tax caps and revenue offset considerations aside, the value of less tangible contributions to the community may not be as easy to quantify. But, suggests the Wolves' Cheveldayoff, there is significant worth in the efforts of professional athletes to encourage young aspirants by sharing with them knowledge and enthusiasm for their sport. He indicates that partnerships such as the one between his organization and the park district offer a way for "pros to give back." As he points out, "Each and every one of our players is a product of a hockey school where they came from. Hopefully, future hockey stars and skaters will get their start at this new facility."

Arena Amenities

When planning a new ice arena, owners will need to figure out what amenities intended user groups would desire in a facility, and determine an affordable combination of features. In developing a basic programming plan, Kate Ditchman of Williams Architects in Carol Stream, Ill., says, "Facility-specific programming, amenity square footages and associated construction costs will be affected by many factors, including owner and user preferences, building materials and finishes, building schedule, facility location and owner's funding capacity."

The following items listed below might be considered a model for those planning a facility. "Co-user ice arenas, such as the Hoffman Estates Park District-Chicago Wolves collaboration," Ditchman continues, "has afforded the park district the advantages of increasing its funding capacity and raising its profile in the community. The end result is a larger facility with more amenities that appeal to both user groups."

BASIC PROGRAMMING FOR TWIN ICE ARENAS

Two NHL-sized ice surfaces,

accompanied by:

Player bench space

Penalty boxes

Scorekeeping area

Bleacher seating areas (one rink with larger capacity)

ADA-accessible viewing areas

Lobby

Skate rental area

Pro shop and skate-sharpening facility

Concessions

Lockers and skate changing area

Shower and toilet facilities

Referee locker rooms

Coaches' room

First-aid accommodations

General offices

Public washrooms

Party room/conference room

Zamboni room and ice pit

Refrigeration machine room

Mechanical room

Electrical room 

Janitor room

General storage

Additional needs for a

co-user/hockey team:

Private locker room

Trainer's facility and office

Coach locker room and office

Players lounge

Fitness room

Street lockers

Sauna

Steam room

Therapy Pools

Shower and toilet facilities

Laundry accommodations

Equipment storage

Offices

Additional shared-use

spaces/amenities:

Fitness center

Conference rooms