Cool Springs Etc: November 2007

So is it a done deal or not?

I'm a little confused, or maybe I don't understand basic economics. They sure do spend a lot of time talking about the scarcity of ice and the enormous demand for ice time to help explain why they're shutting down two sheets of ice in this article from Wednesday's Tennessean:

Director says talk of sale premature

By CHIP CIRILLO
Staff Writer

FRANKLIN — Middle Tennessee might lose one of its two ice rinks because Southern Ice Arena in Franklin is under contract to sell.

The owner of the Cool Springs sports complex has entered into an agreement to sell the facility to a local group of investors, according to an e-mail sent to parents and players in an arena hockey league.

Christy Elrod, the hockey registrar who sent the e-mail, said the investment group plans to convert the arena into a volleyball/basketball facility.

Attempts to reach owner Scott Fish were unsuccessful.

"Nothing has been closed," arena hockey director Ryan Lessnau said. "Nothing has been signed yet. There's just been talk with a local group of investors about putting basketball and volleyball here for kids."

Lessnau said it is a different group of investors than the one that hopes to build a facility in Brentwood for basketball, volleyball and tennis.

At Monday night's Brentwood Planning Commission, owner Mark Cleveland said he would retool plans to add an 84,000-square-foot complex to the Dolphin Club, a swim and tennis center.

Cleveland could wind up with a bit of competition if the Southern Ice deal is sealed. He insists, though, that the idea for his property is different.

"I think it just goes to prove the demand in the area for this type of facility," Cleveland said.

Southern Ice management had to raise hockey fees during the last several years to keep the rink open.

Although demand for ice time has steadily increased since the arena's 1999 opening, with the boom of youth, adult and high school ice hockey leagues, Elrod said the rink has never had a profitable year and more than $2 million has been put into the facility during the past three years to keep it open.

New facility is the goal

"We don't have enough ice, plain and simple, to accommodate everyone, not even close." Lessnau said.

"The thing is, the majority of people want more ice, and we can't give it to them."

Lessnau said the company that sold Southern Ice its equipment has closed.

"Getting repairs and everything is just horrible, so we're pretty much looking for a new, efficient place to run," Lessnau said.

"And we're looking to build and be ready for next season," he said, indicating that a new ice arena could be built at another location.

Southern Ice and Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville are the only ice rinks in Middle Tennessee.

Elrod said the uncertain status of the Nashville Predators ownership was a factor in the decision to sell the arena.

The conversion process is scheduled to begin in February, but the arena hockey leagues will continue as planned.

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