Clock ticking on ice bubble's
season
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Scott N. Miller
August 14, 2004
VAIL - Tick,
tick, tick.
That's the sound of the clock ticking on Vail's ice bubble and its chance of
rising at the golf course driving range for one more winter. If the bubble does
rise again, the decision probably won't come until near the end of September.
Over the past several weeks members of the Valley Wide Ice Users Alliance, an
informal group made up of adult and junior hockey interests, figure skating
families and others, have been lobbying both the Vail Recreation District and
the Vail Town Council to put up the bubble for one more season, while the users
try to find a permanent home for the giant inflatable structure.
The bubble - owned by the town - is currently in storage. Council members have
agreed to keep it in storage, at least for a while. Ice users, meanwhile, are
pushing for a permanent home for the structure and are targeting Edwards' Miller
Ranch as a likely location.
If the bubble does move - a very large "if" at the
moment - that move is still at least a year away, which leaves the ice users
lobbying for one more season at the golf course.
With that lobbying, though, comes commitment. In this case, ice users are
working on a way to cut the town's cost to erect the bubble, then put as many
skaters as possible into that facility and Dobson Ice Arena to cut operating
losses.
The town budgeted $190,000 for set-up and tear-down of the bubble last season.
At a recent town council meeting, alliance representative Stephen Connolly said
the group is ready to put up as much "sweat equity" as needed to get
the bubble off the ground again.
Between volunteer labor, donated lodging and other efforts, Connolly said,
"We're confident we can trim some of the budget" to build the bubble.
Skaters are also preparing a proposal to the recreation district to fill time at
both Dobson and the bubble. That commitment could also include an "ice
surcharge," in which groups promise an extra few dollars per skater. If
revenue levels for operations don't meet projections, those surcharges would be
paid to cover the difference, Connolly said.
The ice users' proposals are still being developed, but
Connolly said the group will have its projections set in time to give recreation
district board members time to evaluate them before that group's Aug. 24
meeting.
"(The board) may be skeptical, but they're willing to give us a
chance," Connolly said.
That skepticism comes from operating losses that approached $50,000 last season.
And one continuing skeptic on the board still needs to be convinced the ice
users can back up claims of large demand for ice time.
While the ice users claim 35 groups with as many as 800 members, ice time went
begging at the bubble last year, and Dobson's time wasn't filled, either.
With that as the reality, recreation district board member Scott Proper said he
isn't sure running the bubble another year - and, in effect, taking skaters off
Dobson's ice, which costs more to use - is the best use of the district's
resources.
"The same issue arises a thousand times a day in this
country," Proper said. "It isn't a matter of philosophy, or a group's
worth ... you have to pick and choose what you do."
Staff Writer Scott N. Miller can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 613, or smiller@vaildaily.com.
Key dates:
Aug. 24: Vail Recreation District meeting. The board is expected to decide
whether it's willing to operate the bubble for another season.
Sept. 21: Vail Town Council meeting. That group is expected to make a final
decision whether to set up the bubble one more time.