Landsberg - It's tight at HC Landsberg Riverkings. When club president Frank Kurz opens the door to one of the four changing rooms, a narrow tube from a room in which every square centimeter of storage space is occupied shows up. There are even clothes hanging from the ceiling. Half an ice hockey team moves on the few square meters for the games. In order to meet modern standards, the municipal ice rink would need 16 cabins.
“We have a massive problem with space,” summarized Kurz's board colleague Joachim Simon during an on-site meeting with the city council's education, social and cultural committee. The 45-year-old hall was built too small from the start, according to the HCL representatives. Almost 400 children are now playing ice hockey or figure skating in the club. There is an ice skating school with 100 children per week and the popular public skating. The bottom line is that around 3,000 citizens use the ice rink every week.
“We could cover three ice rinks at the same time,” says HCL spokesman Simon.
“But our biggest problem is: cabins.” The Riverkings could also use a weight room.
At the moment only two stationary bikes in the tea kitchen and a few medicine balls fulfill this function.
VIP rooms would also be welcome, adds Kurz.
"That sounds elitist, but it helps with marketing."
High level
In terms of sport, the club is on a remarkable level despite everything.
The upper league team is the city's top-class club and the junior teams also play in the highest possible divisions.
Speaking of which: The work with young people should be further improved, says Kurz, for example through more intensive cooperation with schools and kindergartens.
"We are among the 40 best performing clubs in Germany and want to be among the top 20," said the chairman confidently.
This cannot be achieved with the existing infrastructure.
A renovation and expansion of the ice rink is pending - or its demolition and the construction of a new multifunctional arena.
According to an expert opinion, the roof rack construction of the existing hall can only be reliably maintained for six to eight years.
High time
“That's tomorrow,” commented Stefan Meiser (ÖDP) with a view to the long lead time that a new building would require.
Christian Hettmer (CSU) also thought it was “high time to look for solutions”.
Mayor Doris Baumgartl (UBV) sees it the same way and wants to embed the planning for the ice rink in a sports facility concept.
A corresponding investigation has been commissioned.
It is already a challenge every year to coordinate the ice ages for the various user groups.
From the perspective of the Riverkings, a multifunctional new building should include two ice rinks as well as the aforementioned 16 cabins and VIP rooms.
Current funds are available, and investors can also be involved in the implementation.
