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Hammer in Mittenwald: ice rink is closed

2022-09-16T14:54:52.990Z


The energy club hit with full force: Because of the exorbitantly increasing costs, the Arena Mittenwald had to be closed on October 16th. The hands of those responsible at City Hall are also tied.


The energy club hit with full force: Because of the exorbitantly increasing costs, the Arena Mittenwald had to be closed on October 16th.

The hands of those responsible at City Hall are also tied.

Mittenwald

– The mayor of Mittenwald describes the situation relentlessly: “A shitty time,” says Enrico Corongiu (SPD) – first Corona, then the energy crisis.

Now the man who actually wanted to build a swimming pool in his home town has to watch as another important facility is closed: the ice rink.

On October 16th, in less than a month, the lights will go out there.

"After almost 20 years, we are unfortunately forced to stop operations due to the exorbitantly increasing energy costs," said Jutta Mayer, Managing Director of Arena-Mittenwald-GmbH, in a press release on Friday.

Since 2004, the name Mayer has stood for life in the ice rink.

Since then, the market town has made its loss-making sports facility available to the family and also granted them an annual operating cost subsidy.

This year it was 56,000 euros.

In view of the current development on the electricity and energy market, that's a drop in the bucket.

But the municipality cannot grant more.

State aid funds are capped and have long been exhausted, explains the head of town hall, who still has to digest the arena hammer.

"We are in close contact," assures Corongiu.

"Nothing is in writing yet."

Jutta Mayer's statement, on the other hand, does.

According to her, "as a result of the uncertainties caused by Corona requirements", the necessary energy - around 350,000 kilowatt hours of natural gas and 220,000 kilowatt hours of electricity - was procured "only at short notice".

Irrespective of the global political situation, those responsible at Arena-GmbH decided to try the first ice in mid-July.

A decision they would soon regret.

"Due to the price explosion, energy costs for the month of August 2022 rose by 266 percent to 32,000 euros," says the Mayers press release.

What is at least as catastrophic for her: "The forecast for the rest of 2022 and the forward prices for the year 2023 do not allow for economic operation." Jutta Mayer and her team are also certain: "The price of ice cream will almost triple no option."

In other words: In exactly 29 days, ice stars, ice hockey players and curling enthusiasts will lose their sporting home in Mittenwald – the future is more uncertain than ever.

The head of the municipal works, Matthias Pöll, prudently does not want to comment on the muddled situation.

"No comment." With energy prices unleashed, he knows all too well that this is not the time for water level reports or hasty promises.

Jutta Mayer is fully aware that there is no alternative to her decision from an economic point of view, but she deeply regrets this step.

"We tried with a lot of heart and soul to offer the athletes a home," are the final lines of their letter.

"We are very sorry for the many children and active people."

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-09-16

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