Alpine Ice Centre Explained

Stadium Name:Alpine Ice
Logo Image:Alpine Ice Centre logo.png
Location:495 Brougham Street, Opawa, Christchurch, New Zealand, 8023
Renovated:
New roof installed
Capacity:700
Surface:Ice – 56x
Tenants:Canterbury Red Devils (2005–present)
Canterbury Inferno (2014–present)
Coordinates:-43.5484°N 172.6577°W

Alpine Ice (also known as Alpine Ice Sports Centre) is an indoor ice sports and public skate centre, that opened in April 1985. It is located in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, in the inner-city suburb of Opawa. It is the current home venue of the Canterbury Red Devils in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) and Canterbury Inferno in the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL). The arena is the only operational indoor ice sports centre in Christchurch.

History

Christchurch ice rink history

The first indoor ice rink in Christchurch was opened in 1952. Known as Centaurus Road Ice Rink, the venue was located in the southern-Christchurch suburb of Cashmere.[1] The ice rink was owned by Mr. A F W Jones and the brothers Mr. Frank and Mr. George Kirkpatrick (Ice Rinks Chch Ltd).[2] In 1953, the Centaurus Ice Skating Club was formed to utilise the facility along with the general public.[2] On 5 July 1953, the ice rink was badly damaged by a fire but was repaired and remained operational.[2] In 1978, the ownership and operation of the ice rink changed hands, with Mr. Jaap de Haan purchasing the venue.[2] The early to mid-1980s saw the ageing Centaurus Road Ice Rink hit tough times, first closing in 1983, before ceasing all operations in September 1984 and being demolished in March 1985.[2] [1]

Foundation of Alpine Ice

In 1983 work commenced on the construction of a new and modern international-sized ice rink facility located at Opawa.[1] The new rink, was bought by a company that included the current owner of the facility and was officially opened in April 1985 under the name of The Big Apple Ice Rink.[1] [3] In August 1992, Christchurch suffered a major snow storm, colloquially known as the 'Big Snow'. This storm was the largest snowstorm to hit Christchurch in 30 years.[4] The Alpine Ice Centre suffered major damage during the storm, with the roof of the facility collapsing. Reconstruction of the roof took nine months, with the ice rink closed for this time and re-opened in May 1993.[1] [5] As of 2024, the arena employs 30 people, including full-time and part-time employees.

Facilities

The arena's facilities were built between 1983 and 1985 and have been gradually updated with the last major upgrade coming in 2009.[6] [7] They include:

Events

The arena hosts public skating and holiday events on a regular and seasonal basis. Alpine Ice hosts regular community-level ice sporting events for ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating with a number of associated clubs, such as Canterbury Ice Hockey Association, Canterbury Alpine Ice Speed Skating Club, Canterbury Masters Figure Skating Club and Centaurus Ice Skating Club, using the venue.[8] [9] [10] [11] The arena also hosts national level ice hockey games during the NZIHL and NZWIHL seasons.[12] [13]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The History of Alpine Ice Sports & Entertainment Centre . alpineice.co.nz . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124231228/https://www.alpineice.co.nz/about-us/our-history/ . 24 January 2023 . live .
  2. Web site: Centaurus Ice Skating Rink . Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club . 5 March 2023 . 17 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230126115535/http://aardwolfsice.com/News/NIR/Locations/Centaurus_Rink_Page.html . 26 January 2023 . live .
  3. Web site: Opening of Big Apple ice rink . Christchurch Star archive . 5 March 2023 . 30 April 1985 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305011542/https://discoverywall.nz/media/121561?page=4 . 5 March 2023 . live .
  4. Web site: A city paralysed: Remembering Christchurch's 'big snow' 30 years after the devastating dump . 5 March 2023 . Debbie . Jamieson . 27 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230215220503/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/129678855/a-city-paralysed-remembering-christchurchs-big-snow-30-years-after-the-devastating-dump . 15 February 2023 . live .
  5. Web site: Go NZ: Best places to ice skate in New Zealand . New Zealand Herald . 27 February 2023 . Juliette . Sivertsen . 7 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112033841/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/go-nz-best-places-to-ice-skate-in-new-zealand/U6UBCDXMYXRMQF6TLCJZA7Y3YM/ . 12 January 2023 . live .
  6. Web site: Alpine Ice Sports Centre Christchurch . eurohockey.com . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518144541/https://www.eurohockey.com/arena/777-alpine-ice-sports-centre-christchurch.html . 18 May 2021 . live .
  7. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions . alpineice.co.nz . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124231526/https://www.alpineice.co.nz/info/faq/ . 24 January 2023 . live .
  8. Web site: Sports at Alpine Ice . alpineice.co.nz . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124231653/https://www.alpineice.co.nz/sports/ . 24 January 2023 . live .
  9. Web site: About Us: History and Objectives . Canterbury Ice Hockey Association . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230125051708/https://www.ciha.org.nz/about-us . 25 January 2023 . live .
  10. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions . canterburyspeed.co.nz . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230125041358/https://www.canterburyspeed.co.nz/faq/ . 25 January 2023 . live .
  11. Web site: Figure Skating at Alpine Ice . alpineice.co.nz . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124231710/https://www.alpineice.co.nz/sports/figure-skating/ . 24 January 2023 . live .
  12. Web site: NZWIHL History . New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League . 25 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224132220/https://www.nzwihl.com/nzwihl-history/ . 24 February 2023 . live .
  13. Web site: Canterbury Red Devils . Canterbury Red Devils . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230126140900/https://www.reddevils.co.nz/canterbury-red-devils/ . 26 January 2023 . live .