National Ice Centre
| National Ice Centre | |
|---|---|
 Exterior of the National Ice Centre | |
| Location | Bolero Square The Lace Market Nottingham NG1 1LA United Kingdom |
| Broke ground | 1993 |
| Opened | April 1, 2000 |
| Owner | Nottingham City Council |
| Tenants | Nottingham Panthers (2000–present) |
| Capacity | 7,500 |
The National Ice Centre (NIC) is located in Nottingham, England. It is the first twin Olympic-sized ice rink in the UK. Located just east of the city centre, close to the historic Lace Market area, the facility includes the Nottingham Arena (since January 2016 re-branded as the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham).
The first rink and the arena were opened on 1 April 2000 by Olympic Gold Medalist, Jayne Torvill. The second Olympic Rink opened the following year, on 7 April 2001.[1]
History
The National Ice Centre was constructed on the site of the former Nottingham Ice Stadium, which opened in 1939 and was showing its age. Plans to replace the stadium were first announced in September 1995. The estimated cost of replacement was £13 million, part of which was to come from National Lottery funds. The plans were unveiled in October 1996, by which time the British Olympic Association had got behind the proposal.
Several buildings were demolished to make way for the new ice centre; This included an Art Deco warehouse and "The Old Cricket Players" pub, which was initially planned to be spared. The former Ice Stadium closed in March 2000, and by May 2000 was described as "nearly demolished", with four skip loads of demolition rubble being removed from the site every day.[2][3]
During excavation for the new building in July 1998 a rare 1,100-year-old Saxon jug was found, which is on display at the Nottingham Castle Museum. A 19th-century graveyard was also found under the car park, from which the bodies were then exhumed.
The centre was officially opened on 1 April 2000 by Olympic Gold Medalist, Jayne Torvill; with the first public skating sessions taking place the same month. The second phase of the project – the family rink – was scheduled to be completed by May–June 2001, but opened early on 7 April 2001.[4][1] The final cost of the project was £43million,[1] 10% of which came from the lottery – one of the highest grants awarded.
Queen Elizabeth II visited the National Ice Centre and Nottingham Arena on 31 July 2002.[5]
Nottingham Panthers
The arena is home to the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team. Founded in 1946, it was disbanded in 1960 and reformed 20 years later. The team have won eight out of twelve cup finals since 1994, and won three out of nine play-off finals.[6] The Ice Centre is also the base for the GB Short Track Speed Skating Squad.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About the NIC". http://www.national-ice-centre.com/about/1_about_the_nic?utm_source=Index&utm_medium=AboutUs_-_About&utm_campaign=MenuTracking. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ Brunton, John. "Centre Stage: Torvill to open ice complex", 29 March 2000. Retrieved on 22 December 2013.
- ↑ Brunton, John. "It's gone but not forgotten", 15 May 2000. Retrieved on 22 December 2013.
- ↑ Brunton, John. "PROMOTERS HOPE TO ATTRACT A GALAXY OF TOP STAR NAMES TO PULL IN THE CROWDS AT THE CITY'S NEW ICE STADIUM", 28 March 2000. Retrieved on 22 December 2013.
- ↑ "Venue Information: Capital FM Arena Nottingham". The Gig Cartel. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. http://www.freezepage.com/1370811947IVGIOFKQBL. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ↑ "The History of the Nottingham Panthers"
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