Ice Arena (Adelaide)

IceArenA, located in Thebarton, Adelaide, South Australia first opened on 17 September 1981 as the Ice Arena. In late 1986, the centre closed for the construction of the world's first indoor ski slope and reopened in 1987 as Mt Thebarton Snow and Ice, featuring what was reported to be the world's first indoor ski slope on artificial snow. The centre underwent a further name change to Snowdome Adelaide. Most recently, following the closure of the Ski Slope in 2005, a final name change to IceArenA was made. The IceArenA is South Australia’s premier ice skating facility located just minutes from the Adelaide CBD.^[1]

The venue offers a wide variety of activities including ice hockey lessons, ice skating lessons, snow play sessions, school holiday skating, birthday parties, public skating sessions, and it is also the home venue of the Adelaide Adrenaline ice hockey men's and women's teams.^[2]

History

1981 -
The centre first opened in 1981 with a full size skating rink surrounded by a speed skating track.
1987 -
The indoor snow slope was added in 1987.
To accommodate the new structure supporting the ski-slope and to make room for the bottom of the slope, the concentric skating rink concept was abandoned and replaced by two ice skating rinks (one large 56×26m rink and one smaller 30×15m surface).
^[3]
2005 -
The facility temporarily closed in June 2005 due to the running costs of the centre, but has since reopened minus the indoor slope.
2016 -
4 March 2016, the Large Ice was closed due to issues with the pipe works under the large ice.
Media release states that IceArenA are in discussions with the government.

7 May 2016, the Large Ice reopened, with various dignitaries in attendance, after a government grant was provided to purchase a new, modern refrigeration plant.

See also

• List of ice rinks in Australia

References

External links

• Ice ArenA official site
• Ice Skating Australia