Why Doesn’t UVA buy the Charlottesville Ice Park?

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Jim

Just a thought. From today’s C-Ville:

As its June 30 closing date approaches, the Charlottesville Ice Park faces the real possibility of lying dormant. There are currently no interested buyers or tenants for the venue, according to co-owner Roberta Williamson.

Where will UVA Men’s and Women’s teams practice and play?

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  • http://waldo.jaquith.org Waldo Jaquith

    UVA’s teams are just clubs. Team membrs have to pay for their own gear, ice fees, etc. UVA has a hockey team in the same sense that they have an ultimate frisbee team and a frisbee golf team. Given that, you can see that it doesn’t make any sense for UVA to buy the ice rink.

  • http://realcentralva.com Jim

    I know, but UVA often does things that don’t make much sense. It would be a nice gift to the community. :)

    Heck, maybe now the frisbee teams can practice there after the ice melts.

  • Roger Voisinet

    UVa will not buy the icepark because the price is too high, for one ($4.1mm) This assumes it is even on their radar which it is not. If Teressa Sullivan, the new president, were already here then I think I could have a good chance of brokering a win-win deal but she will not be here till mid July

    …the asking price reflects the marketing effort to sell the “property” to a developer or speculator…as an ongoing business as an ice skating business it is worth much less than this…We have made offers to keep it an ice skating arena.

  • Roger Voisinet

    Waldo is somewhat right but his analogies are misleading as non-varsity ice hockey is highly organized and rigorous. We belong to the ACHA (American College Hockey Association) which is larger than the NCAA and has 5 national champions each year. We also belong to the ACCHL (Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League) which is also very well organized and serious…not at all like club frisbee. It is true the players pay $1000 per season and the coaches are volunteers. UVa does contribute approx $10,000 per season to the team which started in 1995.