Today's Rink Update

The Arizona Daily Star is reporting (there will be a full story tomorrow, I'm sure):

At a pre-trial hearing Friday, the owners of a shuttered ice rink complex said they'll attempt to reopen it under different management.

"We want to get it open again for kids and families that have been put out since Polar Ice closed it," said David Williamson, a representative of WB-Gateway LLC.

Tempe-based Polar Ice Entertainment, which managed the facility at 7333 E. Rosewood St. since its purchase by WB Gateway last May, closed the rink down Sept. 9. It was Tucson's only public rink. The company's Web site stated that "reoccuring mechanical and environmental potential safety hazards" prompted the closure.

The company has sued landlord WB-Gateway, charging that it failed make promised and much-needed repairs to the sub-floor of the complex, which have resulted in a buildup of permafrost that could lead to a "catastrophic failure," and makes the complex wholly unusable.

WB Gateway maintains that maintenance and repair of the sub-floor is Polar Ice's responsibility, and that Polar Ice owes substantial money in property taxes and rent.

Polar Ice has now ended its lease agreement and has no intention of re-opening the complex, said the company's attorney Melvin Cohen.

Cohen agreed to replenished a $300,000 letter of credit provided that WB Gateway would agree to abstain from withdrawing any money from it until the court has resolved the dispute. WB Gateway had withdrawn about $112,000 for taxes, rent and late fees.

The owners did not specify a possible opening date.

The Polar Ice site said yesterday:

UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

To Our Valued Customers,

Since the temporary closure of Polar Ice Tucson we have received many inquiries regarding refund information. As many of our customers know we are scheduled for a courting hearing on Friday September 16, 2005. Once the hearing is complete Polar Ice Entertainment will layout and announce a timeline and do our best to honor all refunds in a timely manner. We Thank You once again for all your support and patience.