Ice rink is a sporting enrichment for the old town of Schongau

Created: 01/16/2023, 10:00 am

By: Rafael Sala

Schongau's Mayor Falk Sluyterman was one of the first to show off their skills on the synthetic ice rink at Marienplatz.

© Herald

The youth guard of the Schongau carnival society started, then it was the turn of the junior teams of the “Mammuts”: the plastic ice rink was opened on Marienplatz in Schongau to a great crowd.

The fact that the project costs the city comparatively little is thanks to a happy coincidence.

Schongau

– Not a day like any other: That could have been the motto last Saturday in Schongau.

An event took place there that the city council and the population had longed for and that was repeatedly the subject of city hall meetings: the opening of the plastic ice rink on Marienplatz.

For a good month, at least until mid-February, children and adults, young and old, have the opportunity from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to dash around the 50 square meter area between the Ballenhaus and the Mariensäule, have fun there and prove their own skills to deliver.

Everything under the accompaniment of the "mammoths" of the EA Schongau, which of course was and will be well represented with their offspring.

Carnival guard and mammoth offspring

"Use the system, be happy!": This appeal from Schongau's second mayor Daniela Puzzovio (ALS) and youth officer Thomas Schleich (UWV) did not go unheeded for long.

After the girls of the youth guard of the Schongau carnival society had made their debut with dance numbers, numerous children flocked to the synthetic ice surface, above all the small and very small pupils of the "mammoths", who were armed with helmets, gloves, breastplates and the like.

Franz Kölbl, who traveled from Apfeldorf with his mother Ulrike Kölbl to be at the start at 11 a.m., thinks the facility is “great”.

Her mother says she was in town anyway to do some shopping.

"Of course we didn't want to miss that."

The youth guard of the Schongau carnival society provided entertainment in addition to the opening of the artificial ice rink.

© Herald

It is thanks to sheer coincidence that the facility came into the possession of the city at the instigation of the action group "Schongau revives".

Surveys have shown that the need for ice skating in winter is "huge", as location promoter Tina Birke describes.

Especially after the Corona period, there is a great need for public events and offers with sport and exercise.

"The very big wish of everyone we asked was: an ice rink that can be used all day, that is available to everyone."

Quite cheap at 12,000 euros

Sounds good in theory, but is difficult to implement in practice.

Commercially available systems with plastic panels, goal walls, barriers and equipment usually cost astronomical sums.

That's why he could hardly believe his eyes when he was on the Internet about this, reported Schleich.

On the website of the “Teamsportarena” in Schongau he found out that an ice rink with plastic plates, gates, barriers and all the trimmings was for sale – right around the corner, so to speak.

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And at the right time, almost as ordered.

The price: 12,000 euros, "a sum that is absolutely feasible," adds Birke.

Funding from the federal and state governments was also available, so that the city's purse was not strained too much.

Bring momentum to the old town

Of course, there was also resistance to the project: after all, an ice rink on which the runners race for several hours a day is associated with a corresponding background noise that, to put it mildly, is not for everyone.

Hugely happy about the opening of the ice rink: location promoter Tina Birke and EAS junior coach Björn Michels.

© Sala

City Councilor Kornelia Funke (CSU) knows a thing or two about complaints beforehand.

"Sure, there were complaints, as is always the case with such events." You just have to live with that.

Revitalizing the inner cities, counteracting the dying of business and creating attractive offers from time to time is essential for a city like Schongau.

You just have to ask yourself what you want.

"I'll say it very clearly: Bring momentum to the city center," says Funke.

Goal wall shooting every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m

An attitude shared by the entire city council.

For Björn Michels, the main youth trainer of the "Mammuts", the coming days and weeks are a cause for celebration: "I think it's good that this event is revitalizing Schongau and that we can show the population what our kids are all about have it."

One of the main attractions will be the goal wall shooting, which takes place every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A total of nine finalists from the competition can demonstrate their accuracy on January 27th in the ice rink - at the home game of the "Mammuts" against the "Devils" from Ulm.

The winner can look forward to a great main prize.

You can find more current news from the region around Schongau at Merkur.de/Schongau.

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