True North

Per Channel 12 News, the New Hope Ice Arena will need significant repairs soon.

Underneath one of the arena's two rinks is a sand and steel foundation. It's an outdated system that has held up pretty well for more than 30 years, but inevitably, it will soon need to be replaced.

New Hope Mayor Martin Opem, Sr. says it will cost roughly $1.5 million to update the rink, money the city doesn't have.

"We don't have the funds to support the sheet of ice," explained Opem. "The ideal situation in my mind is that the Youth Hockey Association and the 281 School District figure out how to come up with the cash for the repair."

District 281 has been cutting athletics as part of budget crises, so Mayor Opem can forget about that.

What's interesting here is that New Hope likely lured and promoted having Armstrong, Cooper (and Robbinsdale?) High School playing there when it opened. The city was in its ascendancy and high school hockey had just eclipsed high school basketball in popularity. That and the supporting youth programs and figure skaters meant that nobody was likely worried about money, not enough to escrow for later major repairs or replacement.

The bill has nonetheless come due. Now, those "customers" who did indeed make the arena a success are now expected to fork over another $1.5 million. Continuing from Channel 12:

Opem points out that [they] serve seven area cities, yet New Hope alone foots the ice arena bill. He says it's a cost New Hope should not have to cover alone.

Really?

You patronize a theater for years, and the roof finally starts giving way. The owner tells you that because of your regular attendance, you are now obligated to him to help pay for a new roof. Me, I'd find another theater.

Of course, what will most likely happen is that veteran State Senator Ann Rest will slide this into the 2010 bonding bill.

Cross-posted at Speed Gibson. Comments welcome.