Skating Academy wins extension

July 23, 2007
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SkatesThe Indiana Worlds Skating Academy has agreed to a 9-month lease extension for its space at Pan Am Plaza. The organization will remain downtown at least until April 2008, said Academy Executive Director Pam Robinson. The group was told in October 2006 that it would have to move to make way for a new convention hotel, but the city chose another plan instead. The Academy still is eyeing a move to the State Fairgrounds. The General Assembly has allocated $4 million, half the estimated cost for new rinks. What should be done with the old rinks if the Academy moves?
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  • TonyJuly 23, 2007 10:50 AM
    I think it's time for them to move on. That is one of the best pieces of property downtown and should be developed into some form of high rise. With the new plaza going in out in front of the L.O.S., I think we can all move on and allow PanAm Plaza to be redeveloped.
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  • Susie WatsonJuly 23, 2007 1:43 PM
    The garage is in such poor condition as far as gutters falling down trying to stop the water leaking from the plaza. The skating academy also has its leaks from the plaza area also. The skating rink needs to move out and the plaza the garage need to go.. They could put a nice parking garage up one that is built right the first time. Connect it to the new convention center. They could enclose the whole area from the mall to the convention center like they do in Minnesota. This area has seen its day if the new stadium is constructed like the pan am plaza it wont last long. The skating academy has had alot of water damage in the past and it wont stop till they move to a better built building. The cost have got to be less for them. The garage is overpriced and is in need of reconstruction. The plaza you can see the bricks heaving and entrance ways are insurance risks. The plaza on the side of capitol has dropped at least 4 to 6 inches down. Start over. Build new and this time make it last. If you ever park on the first level look at all the gutters and drains up to give you a good indication that there are alot of problems. The rinks need to go and get a place in a neighborhood or a high populated corner. With free parking. Its wrong to go and skate pay 8.00 to park unless event parking then its 20.00 . Then pay to skate or if you have a child in hockey you may pay more than once a day if you are in a city tournament.
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  • kcfloodJuly 23, 2007 1:49 PM
    put up a 40-story hotel anyways...?
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  • RobJuly 23, 2007 2:21 PM
    I'm assuming that the reference to the $4 million by the General Assembly is to build 2 new rinks at the Indiana State Fairgrounds (although the article doesn't specifically state this). Indy needs the pads of ice, and it will be a big hit to I/WSA to have to move. There is no better positioned rink in the city to pull customers from all sides of town than PanAm Plaza. The Fairgrounds is a compromise, but most southsiders feel that's still quite a drive up north.

    If they must go, then so be it. Greenspace is needed in that area until the Convention Center needs room for further expansion. Hotels are popping up in all other areas of dowtown, so I'm not sure hotel space is really needed.

    Personally, I'll miss the ice rinks. Living in downtown, I've been able to walk to the rinks to ice skate and play hockey for over 10 years. And, when I've had to drive, I've never paid more than $3 to park (normally it cost nothing since on-street parking is free after 6pm and on weekends...sorry, couldn't resist).
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  • WagsJuly 23, 2007 3:22 PM
    It's like watching a little piece of my childhood die, but it's a death that's long overdue.

    The land could be much better used.

    Still, I'll miss the bitter cold of that basement rink and the faint, permeating smell of hockey players in the summer months.
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  • JimJuly 23, 2007 8:12 PM
    How about this idea? Recently, the Indpls SuperBowl bid had the city building a temporary practice facility on the IUPUI Campus to be later used by IPS for exercise training. Instead, why not build a new top-flight skating facility next to National Institute of Fitness and Sports (NIFS), the IU Natatorium, the Inpls Tennis Center and the IU Med Center? The synergy would be fantastic for such a training facility bringing Olympic quality skaters to Indy for years to come. In the process of developing this skating facility incorporate the requirements needed for an NFL team to use it as their practice field for one week of it's existence (in 2012). That way we can achieve two goals: Get a SuperBowl for Indy and start an Olympic Skating Training Site in Indy.
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  • DanielJuly 23, 2007 8:41 PM
    ^^^^^ not a bad idea or what about old busch stadium tear it down and build it there
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  • BruceJuly 23, 2007 9:47 PM
    I have to agree with most of the others. The place now is in horrible shape. Do something there and do it right. Including parking is almost a no-brainer. Also, whatever the plans, I'd like to see a rink there. You can't beat the location; it adds a little bit of style and life to city--having a skating rink downtown.
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  • Bob SaysJuly 24, 2007 8:13 AM
    I like to idea of the old Busch Stadium area, but not that it should be torn down. There should be a way to use to old facade of the stadium and incorporate a new structure into the design. If done well this new facility could have the retro look to it like Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and Conseco Fieldhouse. This seems to be the way Indianapolis builds their sports facilities and it seems to work so why not for a new facility for skating and other uses.
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  • Jim BJuly 24, 2007 12:47 PM
    I'd sure love to see something done with that Pan Am Plaza site. It's in horrible shape. Of course, a big part of the garage's problem is the out-of-state owner. That's probably the biggest reason Browning's wonderful hotel-condo proposal didn't get selected. But I would hate to see downtown lose a skating rink. While I don't use it, I know many who do and they love it. Couldn't something be done in one of these new developments being talked about all over the downtown area? I don't think the Fairgrounds is such a good idea. I like the White River State Park/NIFS idea a whole lot better.
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  • MarshallJuly 24, 2007 1:43 PM
    Honestly, I feel that a skating rink and what limited office space they do have there in that building, are both terrible wastes of prime downtown real estate. Although I don't really see the benefit of turning that relatively small parcel into a premanent greenspace, it would be a nice interim option until a better use is drafted. I'm thinking that a combination office, residential, retail tower similar to the one that Barrett and Stokely had propsed a few years ago for the spot where the Conrad is now located.

    As for ice skating downtown, I believe that there are still plans in the worksto build a skating facility in White River State Park. Personally, I think that this location would be ideal as it would provide yet another reaspn to visit the gem we have downton in WRSP.
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  • MarkJuly 25, 2007 11:22 PM
    It was in a recent article from the IBJ about the Tennis Championship I believe and it's growth and long term plans. They say they want to remain downtown and that IUPUI has the essential rights to their land and IUPUI is starting to grow - more and will continue to grow. Why not have the Tennis Center build a brand new state of the art facility with some indoor courts and outdoor on pan am. Keep it sports themed for the history of the site and location. This will give another individual and team sport for physical activity for the more people that are starting to live downtown.
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