More owners of traditional ice arenas are exploring multipurpose use as a way to maximize off-season revenue, like the City of Hopkins did with its Community Pavilion. To determine if a multi-purpose facility is right for you, you must first evaluate the economic feasibility of each potential function.
Careful programming is the first step toward a successful multi-purpose facility.
Owners should identify and prioritize the facility's uses. Once the desired uses are identified, the sophisticated process of space planning begins. Where off-season use of the ice floor is anticipated, the footprint must accommodate each specific use. In the preliminary facility planning stage, decide between a regulation or Olympic-size ice sheet. The answer is a major determinant of the footprint and greatly affects cost in terms of the structure, mechanical systems and other construction considerations.