Commission Approves Incredible Ice Expansion For Third Ice Rink, Training Facility For Florida Panthers

Published January 2008

By Nicol Jenkins
Editor

By the end of 2008, the Florida Panthers will have a new training facility and Coral Springs residents can twirl around a new ice rink.

The Coral Springs City Commission recently approved an agreement with Incredible Ice to expand its facility to add a third full National Hockey League size rink for the public and a 12,000 to 14,000 square foot training facility exclusively to be used by the Florida Panthers team.

“We’re pleased with the agreement and believe it will be a great addition to our community,” said City Manager Mike Levinson.

Under the agreement, Incredible Ice, currently a 75,000 square foot facility with two ice rinks, will expand to approximately 125,000 square feet equaling a 50,000 square foot addition, according to Jeff Campol, Vice President and General Manager of Incredible Ice. This will also mean additional parking expected to reach over 450 parking spots.

“We’ve been here 11 yrs now and are an integral part of Coral Springs and it was just natural to expand,” said Campol. “There is a critical shortage of ice in South Florida and we are one of the busiest facilities in the country. This is a great opportunity to expand and give back, and to do more for our customers and provide a training facility for the Panthers team, which does not have one now.”

The city will also reap the benefit from the deal. Incredible Ice is projected to pay the city an additional $1.8 million over the remaining primary term of the concession agreement, an average of $46,200 per year. The agreement has a 49-year term which will provide the city with advertising opportunities at Incredible Ice and the BankAtlantic Center, according to Campol. There is also approximately four acres of vacant park property between Incredible Ice and Sample Road that the company may develop into a recreational facility. However, there have been no plans set for that property, according to city documents.

Although, Incredible Ice has set construction to start in early 2008 and expects the expansion to be complete by the end of 2008.

“In a year from now, we should be ready to go,” said Campol.