Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I have spoken with Douglas Webber’s representative. They are trying to put an exhibition together. You are not going to get top class Hockey players for these matches.
We’ve also interfaced about providing the ice surface for the games. I gave him a lot of reasons why he needs to get real about what his money can buy before I can help him to have a surface that an actual USA vs. Canada act will be prepared to play. In my opinion the only such surface existing in NZ at the moment is Dunedin. Everything else will need to be imported. In the end they found an Ozzie company that is willing to meet the requirement for temporary ice and boards.
I’ve offered to broker a deal with the AJHL for proper Junior A teams to come and play (my opinion: this is better Hockey than the NHL most of the times.) Got declined. There is some smoke and mirrors here…
The target market for this “show” is not the Hockey enthusiasts in New Zealand. It is for the man in the street that has never seen a real Hockey player before. It is a show…
Still credit to them for raising awareness of our passion…
I have been scratching my head and researched for three years how to build the most economical rink ever (that doesn’t look like a barn!).
Grant Hay actually issued the challenge.All researched and pricing and vendor inputs in New Zealand, Europe and North America brought us down to the design and configuration of around NZ$5 million, which covers a portion of the first year’s operating costs.
There is no cheaper option with the same features (olympic ice, etc) that looks this good. Trust me on it.
I am not the rink salesman. I am the customer for these rinks, so had to be convinced that it can be done.De ja vu: Yes, I have been on a long trek for this objective of more ice surfaces in New Zealand.
Started with synthetic ice. Not real enough, very expensive, only viable for a training surface or school skating pad.Putting ice and boards into existing buildings can be done economically (around NZ$500,000). However, not many buildings cater for the roof span of 30m+ and the insulation requirements. Once you have to make these adjustments you may as well start a new building.
I have worked on importing a floor and boards to be temporarily installed in venues like Vector, Pacific Centre etc. only to come to the rude realization that these locations will not talk to you for less than a cost of around $15,000 a day for their facility.
It typically takes around a week to install the ice and boards, so before we skate our rent will be $100k down already. Vector etc. is also not in the business of standing empty, so the chances of having the floor permanently installed to be used when the Arena is not hosting something else didn’t really appeal either.
Next on the list was to find an economical building concept. Looked at air inflatable buildings, canvas buildings, iron cladded buildings (barn), brick, concrete, etc. All of them have their drawbacks. I can keep you busy for days on this research alone.
Eventually we settled on Tedlar stretched fabric building that is insulated with fiberglass (SPRUNG). Temporary piping on sand (concrete is prohibitively expensive. Boards on a cement curb (have to stay in place for Olympic ice and a Zamboni), and take the punch of 365 days a year. Dressing rooms, cafe, gym, practice facilities, etc. in modular pre-fabricated buildings attached to the main Arena(New Zealand Stanley Group). The refrigeration plant has to be manufactured in New Zealand to comply with regulations and to have someone willing to service it.
Last expensive item is the Zamboni. CAD$80,000 for a new one. CAD55,000+ or refurbished (same supplier that supplied the Dunedin Zamboni).
As you can see from the above – not a trivial endeavor in the least. I’ve probably visited over 60 rinks in Canada alone learning what works and what to avoid.
When will the rinks open?
We are in negotiations with the Councils and investors. I do not have a date yet. I can say that they journey is a lot more complex than initially understood. Any support, even good wishes alone is welcome.
Blade-Sports Academy – plan is to have an international level Ice Hockey Academy for Northern hemisphere off season use in New Zealand.
I have x-NHL coaches committed already, and support from Minor Hockey Association in Canada willing to consider it for their higher level teams (that work in the off season).If we can build stronger interfacing with these high performing Hockey Nations, Have more facilities, then I believe New Zealand will be the pillar in Hockey in the Southern Hemisphere.
Call it delusions of grandeur if you will. I call it an ambitious journey taken one step at a time (ugly website and all).
Your comments and feedback is very much appreciated.
P.S. NZIHF, SPARC is well briefed on all the above
Hendrik
Blade-SportsHi All,
Just to keep you on track.
The proposed structure is on a sand base because of cost. The rinks need to be economical to construct, and also to be relocated – given that no one is willing to “donate” land for these structures (Councils included). If you have to buy land for a rink, the numbers show it is not viable – that is one of the reasons why no one is rushing to build rinks in New Zealand.
New Zealand rinks will operate year round. In Canada, Arenas are used for other things during summer (rodeo, lacrosse, etc.) The business case for a New Zealand rink requires it to operate 365.
Concrete adds another $500,000 plus to the Project, and it is an asset no movable at a later date when the Council or School want their land back.
Secondly, the structures are now used in Canada in several Ice Rink scenarios. A private school on the west of Calgary just installed three structures with three ice sheets. The main building has the ice sheet, and the dressing rooms are actually housed outside the main structure (it helps to manage the internal climate controls better, and has a bearing on the cost of the span of the building).
These structures can be as big as to cater for seating of up to 6,000 people around an Arena. It is easily expandable when required.
The initial investment proposed for the typical Kiwi rink will seat around 400 – 600 people (not much less than Botany is seating at the moment). This will come in at cost of around $5 million for a project (all inclusive, except the land). The drawings on the Blade-Sports site is just an example.
If Wellington wants to see a 6,000 seater capacity with concrete multi purpose floor, you are looking at $20 million plus and is doable.
Thank you for your support.
Hendrik van Wyk
Blade-Sports
).