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Ice Dome nearing operational status

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Manchester Phoenix are looking forward to finally playing their first home game in the new Altrincham Ice Dome on Saturday February 17th.

Phoenix MD Neil Morris emerged from a lengthy on-site meeting on Thursday evening to release the news all Phoenix fans and ice sports enthusiasts have been waiting for since last September.

“We’ve had a long day going through the outstanding work schedules,” said Morris, “reviewing the critical path for the remainder of the work particularly in relationship to the commencement of the actual ice pad being laid. Together with the directors of Ice Associates, Steve Rattle and Mark Nelson, and the management of Silver Blades, the company set up to operate the venue, we have a very clear and defined diary of work to be done between now and the 17th in order to stage our first home game against the Edinburgh Capitals.”

With the roof of the Ice Dome almost complete after the wind-induced delays of two weeks ago, the brickwork nearing completion and wall cladding well under way, the decision to begin laying the ice pad from next Monday morning has been taken and agreed. A spokesman commented, “this obviously, is the key decision because once the ice plant is turned on, it won’t be turned off.”

Work on the other areas of the project will continue around the ice pad including installation of the barriers and plexiglass together with seating and the completion of the reception area and toilet blocks.

Morris added, “It’s seemed at times as though the light at the end of the tunnel had had the bulb removed… the bulb is not only back in the fitting, it is lit and shining brightly. Steve and his crews all know exactly what has to be done to make the building operational on the 17th. It won’t be 100% finished and it won’t be as perfect as we’d like it to be, but we will finally have an ice sports facility operational again in Manchester.”

Steve Rattle, joint MD of Ice Associates remarked, “There is still a lot of work to be completed and everything possible to see the first game on the 17th staged will be done. As Neil has said, the building won’t be perfect, but our intention is to make it functional for players and supporters alike.”