Traverse City’s Centre ICE Arena is attempting to raise funds to offset the $110,000 it must pay to upgrade its rinks to NHL specifications, in order to continue hosting the Red Wings’ training camp.
Centre ICE executive director Terry Marchand spoke to Traverse City’s 9&10 News’s Whitney Amann and Jeremy Erickson regarding the cause…
Centre Ice Arena needs your help to make sure the Detroit Red Wings Training Camp and NHL Prospect Tournament continue come back to Traverse City.
NHL safety standards have changed for rinks that host events with players, including a different type of glass and new netting.
Even after a huge donation from Traverse City Tourism, they still need help raising another $110,000 to bring their rinks up to NHL standards.
“We went to the Red Wings and said, ‘Hey guys, we need a commitment, we need you to commit to come for x amount of years because this is a huge commitment on our part this financial expenditure.’ So they did, we got a five year commitment from them,” said Terry Marchand, Centre Ice Arena executive director.
And Up North Live reports that the fundraising drive itself and events to support the fundraising initiative will take place between now and June 2nd:
“Centre Ice is a community and Traverse City backs us so much so we appreciate the community that we’re in,” said Centre Ice Marketing Director Tricia Frey.
The yearly events bring in thousands of spectators, and a big economic boost to the area. That’s why Traverse City Tourism made a contribution to their campaign.
“So it’s very important from a business standpoint to keep the hotels full, the restaurants full, the golf courses running and at maximum capacity,” said Traverse City Tourism CEO Trevor Tkach. “All of that is affected by having this Red Wings camp and prospect camp in Traverse City.”
The improvements include new acrylic instead of tempered glass and new netting for spectator safety, which will benefit more than just the pro hockey team.
“Centre Ice will be one of a handful of private use rinks in the United States with this kind of safety standard,” said Frey. “It’s very beneficial for everyone that comes through these doors.”
You can donate to the campaign on Centre Ice’s website, by clicking here.
