Planet Ice Milton Keynes

Planet Ice Milton Keynes is a 2,200-capacity multi-purpose ice rink/hockey rink in Milton Keynes, England, near the Central station. It was built in 1991 (as Bladerunner Arena).^[1] It is one of several ice skating arenas in the UK operated by the Planet Ice Arenas company. From 1991-1996 & 1998-2002 It was home arena for the professional ice hockey team, Milton Keynes Kings before the team relocated to Solihull due to contractual disputes with new arena owners Planet ice. It has since been home arena to semi professional ice hockey teams Milton Keynes Thunder & Milton Keynes Lightning. In the 1990s the arena was seen as the crown of small ice rinks in the UK and hosted several home games for the Great Britain national team. In the 2000s the arena was converted into a basketball court and used as home venue for the city's British Basketball League side Milton Keynes Lions when they had home games broadcast live on sky sports. This was as the team's main home at the time could not provide the space needed for all equipment needed to broadcast a live game. When known as the bladerunner arena, the ice rink was the main training venue for figure skaters and Olympic gold medal winners, Jane Torvill & Christopher Dean. Now known as Planet Ice Milton Keynes (nicknamed 'The Thunderdome') the ice rink and offers standard Planet Ice services such as public skating sessions, disco skating sessions, after school skating sessions, birthday parties and ice skating lessons (which fall under the brand of Galaxy Gliders). The arena boasts a fully licensed bar which regularly holds private functions, this includes a short spell in the mid 2000's when it was used as a night club on non ice hockey match nights. There are private executive boxes for use by sponsors during games, along with a large cafe, Stix, and at small food bar at the far end of the rink which is open during MK Lighting games. The Arena Manager is Karen Lazereg

The arena is part of a leisure complex which also features a bowling alley, Toys R Us, Argos & gentlemans club. The site previously featured a Homebase store, the Empire nightclub (formally Flamingo's) & the sports bar, Heroes. Greenery and a large pond with a walkover bridge were built along with the then new complex in 1991, however the area has since been neglected and shows signs of decay, with shopping trolley's and drink's cans now filling the pond area instead of tropical fish.

References

1. ^ A to Z of Hockey, Pl