This weekend, Charlottesville Ice Park owners Bruce and Roberta Williamson sent a letter to staff members, longtime skaters and local media announcing the sale of the local skating rink, which they bought for $3.1 million in 2003. After two years of improvements—from a new Zamboni and sound system to a rooftop humidifier—the Williamsons extended their lease of the rink’s building, at 218 West Main Street, through November 30, 2010. The Williamsons have the option to extend their lease through 2015, but write that they agreed to "allow cumulative losses up to $1 million."
"It is very clear to use that continuing to operate the Ice Park for even one more full year will mean that our losses since 2005 will exceed $1 million," their letter states. The couple adds that the rink, which now carries a price tag of $4.1 million, would need roughly 20,000 more customers during the course of a year to break even.
The loss of the rink would essentially put the UVA Club Hockey team on ice. (Final record for 2009-2010: 2-15.) The Ice Park plans to host the Coventry Commonwealth Games’ ice skating events in June, before it settles on a final day of business.
The Williamsons’ letter is posted in its entirety on a message board at SkatingForums.com.
A patron of the Charlottesville Ice Park puts the rink to use.
