City To Rebuild The Abe Stark Ice Skating Center in Coney Island
The days of the Abe Stark Sports Center are coming to an end. The ice rink on the Riegelmann Boardwalk between West 19th and West 20th streets will be torn down and fully rebuilt, as per the City’s new plans.
The new rink will include a National Hockey League regulation-sized rink, as well as complimentary sporting facilities, community space, entertainment, retail and dining. The rink will become part of a chain of entertainment in the Coney Island amusement park, which will expand all the way to West 19 street to abut the ice rink.
Another rink already exists in southern Brooklyn at the Aviator Sports & Events Center near Kings Plaza. The Aviator was home to a low level minor league team called the Brooklyn Aviators of the Federal Hockey Hockey for three seasons beginning in 2009. A newer arena in a more convenient location may draw attention of another minor league hockey team, possibly from the mid-level ECHL.
The City allocated $42 million for the project, but would like to reduce the cost by getting sponsorships. It is looking to hire a private developer to build the new sports center. However, the local Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Sea Gate, parts of Brighton Beach and Gravesend) is opposed to choosing a private company as a builder and has come out in favor of the government itself putting up the project.
That building is of important architectural significance and should be incorporated into the development, not torn down like other important buildings have been in the past.
The government can’t spell cat if you spot them the c&t , just remember wollman rink in the city
If the illustration is accurate, the new building will be totally unsuited for hockey, except for 7 to 10- year olds, who can’t lift the puck high enough to hit the low ceiling beams. Also, the apparent lack of seating wouldn’t make it a logical choice for a pro team.
The place should be torn down and footprint left of it. It’s not weather resilient, it’s run down and the only people using it are rich white kids. Who wants that memory?