NB Mulls Skating Rink, March 21

This might be a first for the Bay Area, perhaps the entire Oregon Coast. The City of North Bend is considering the purchase of a refurbished synthetic ice-skating rink according to a news release from City Administrator David Milliron. “The rink offers an ecological, zero-energy alternative to refrigerated ice and is made from heat-pressed polymers rather than ice, so water and electricity are not required for operation.” The Bay Area has had roller skating rinks in the past, but never an ice rink synthetic or other. Closets thing we’ve had to it is “Black Ice.” Coos Bay’s roller rink was located on No. Bayshore Drive, the building still stands, but it fell victim too many times to heavy rains and high tides over and over again and was abandoned. Another roller rink was located in North Bend inside the old McKay’s Market building at Virginia and McPherson, now a thrift store. You can still see the remains of the roller rink if you go inside. Now comes the proposal for ice skating. “Synthetic ice rinks are a worthwhile city attraction. They provide family fun, social benefits, a place for tweens and teens to socialize, and drive tourism and can be used to drive foot traffic to downtown merchants.” Milliron adds “industry data shows ice rinks bring in $853 million a year, with food and beverage being the largest revenue generator outside of admission tickets and rentals.” Milliron hopes to “gauge the interest of a skating rink in North Bend.” While the numbers given might be the highest apple on the tree, a lower reach is probably closer to reality. The other thing to consider is how many households in the Bay Area have ice skates? I know there are rentals, but had to ask.