Ice rink: operating association takes positive stock - defrosting festival
Created: 04/27/2022, 06:00
By: Doris Schmid
Rico Lehwald is satisfied with the winter season.
How the ice rink can be used during the summer months is still open.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
The season at Geretsrieder Eisstadion is as good as over.
The operating association draws a positive balance.
On May 1st there is a defrost festival.
Geretsried – There will only be ice for a few days.
Then all the speedsters have to mothball their ice skates until autumn.
The Heinz-Schneider-Eisstadion opens its doors for the last time on May 1st.
According to Rico Lehwald from the stadium club, a visit on this day is particularly worthwhile.
Public evening run after the defrosting festival
Lehwald is basically very satisfied with the almost completed winter season.
"We're glad it went so well," says the 50-year-old in an interview with our newspaper.
The stadium has been very well received, he emphasizes with a view to the corona pandemic and the restrictions associated with it.
The ice rink will open its doors for the last time this season next Sunday, May 1st.
In the afternoon, the Ice Sports Club (ESC) organizes a defrosting party, and in the evening anyone who feels like it can lace up their ice skates again at the public run.
"The public evening run hasn't existed for many years," says the stadium manager.
Children up to the age of ten can take part free of charge, runners from the age of eleven pay an entrance fee of two euros.
"Maybe it's free for everyone," says Geretsrieder.
That is still up in the air.
After May 1st, the stadium will remain closed for a few weeks.
How the hall can be used during the summer months is still open.
"We have a lot of thoughts." The top priority is public viewing.
But there were still a few technical requirements that were missing, “which we are installing”.
The city also wants to organize events, says Lehwald.
But there is no detailed plan yet.
In principle, there is nothing to be said against renting.
Due to the fire protection concept, the number of visitors is limited, but a larger-scale company celebration is definitely possible.
Energy and potential savings are not an issue
In the neighboring town of Bad Tölz, the significantly increased energy prices are already having an impact on the operation of the ice rink.
For this reason there will be no summer ice in the arena.
Ice during the summer months is not an issue in Geretsried, says the stadium manager.
The energy, on the other hand, does.
At the moment one is still in the fortunate position that the enormous price increases are not too noticeable.
"We conclude the contracts for a certain period of time, and these contracts must be honored by the supplier," says Lehwald.
"But that doesn't mean that it won't catch up with us in two years at the latest, when the contract has expired and other prices are called."
Of course it would be nice for us to find a major sponsor that the arena is named after.
Rico Lehwald from the stadium club
For this reason, one is currently examining how the energy balance of the stadium can be improved.
The modernization of the old cooling tower system could contribute to this.
"Our refrigeration system produces cold," explains Lehwald.
“This creates heat that has to be dissipated.
That happens through the cooling towers.”
Even smaller construction sites in and around the stadium
After the extensive renovation of the ice rink, it is now in its second season.
Nevertheless, there are still smaller construction sites in and around the stadium.
According to Lehwald, further cabins are being built in the north-east of the hall.
"They're almost finished, only the sanitary wing has to be installed." The shell of the gym, conference room and ESC office can be seen above it.
"It's all happening gradually because we don't have the financial means to invest 150,000 euros in one go," explains the stadium manager.
Renaming: Talks with the city again
One is currently in the process of developing ideas for possible sponsorship "to move the whole thing forward".
In this context, the name of the ice rink is also an issue, and negotiations with the city are in progress.
"Of course it would be nice for us to find a major sponsor after whom the arena is named, I have to say that honestly," admits Lehwald.
As is well known, the ice rink is named after the late former mayor of Geretsried, Heinz Schneider.
"Of course we don't want to belittle Heinz Schneider's achievements," says Lehwald.
"But you should talk to the city again to see if there's an option to think about renaming."
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