Originally, SPI Holdings wanted to replace the rink with retail, arguing that it needed to meet with changing demands. Since 2013, SPI has been making offers to the San Mateo City Council, trying to get the demolishment approved, with it’s most recent offer at 8 million dollars. However, with an increase in online shopping, lower demands for retail, and increasing opposition from skating enthusiasts and San Mateo officials, SPI decided to reconsider and withdraw its offer.
“The ice rink provides a unique regional benefit,” says Larry Patterson, the City Manager of San Mateo. “In a community our size it is very desirable to have a variety of recreational opportunities.”
He adds, “Hockey and skating enthusiasts have been frustrated by the closure of the rink. The effect has been amplified by the closure of the Belmont rink. To continue their sports they now have to travel long distances to other rinks.”
Many Aragon ice skaters, such as sophomore Naomi Schroeter, are excited. “I’m really glad [that Bridgepointe is going to reopen].” says Schroeter. “I hate having to drive all the way to Redwood City to ice skate, and then having to deal with all the crowds when I get there … It’s especially hard for people who are actually training for competitions and such, because they can’t do their jumps in fear of crashing into someone … I went to a lesson the other day and there were jumps happening next to pre-K hockey lessons. I don’t think a lot of people get hurt, but it’s still a bit unsettling.”
The reopening would affect ice skating and hockey competition as well. “It’s important to have a variety of ice rinks in close proximity of each other, especially for competitive people,” Schroeter says. “People represent their rink, then their city, then region, so it’s a lot easier to participate in competitions if there are more rinks around. If there are hundreds of skaters who want to represent the same rink, his or her chances go way down to advance.”
Sophomore Colton Tanaka, a hockey player for the Cupertino Cougars, agrees and adds, “I think it’s amazing [that Bridgepointe is reopening]. [The reopening of Bridgepointe] would bring in another [hockey] team, which means more people will be allowed to play.”
Tanaka believes that the new ice rink would also bring in more job opportunities as well. “It would be great if they could start another program there, and if they did, it would be really fun to coach kids there,” he says.
Even students who do not ice skate, such as junior Sarena Yang, show support for the ice rink’s reopening, saying that it will add a new place to hangout, making the shopping center livelier than before. “I would probably visit [the shopping center] more if [the ice rink] reopened,” says Yang, “It’s so close by, and easily accessible. It’s also a great place to hang out and have fun, so of course I would go.”
She adds,“I may not have been a frequenter at the ice rink, but ever since it closed, the center seemed to feel emptier … To replace it with retail stores would be a pity … The ice rink was one of the few recreational places [around San Mateo] and brought joy to many children and parents alike. I also have happy memories of the rink as a child. You can replace retail stores easily, but not an ice rink.”
San Mateo officials are working to get the rink opened by the end of 2017, but finding an operator remains an obstacle. “It is hopeful that the rink can be opened this year,” says Patterson, “but that will depend on whether an operator can be found and how much work will be required to get the rink operational.”
Though the date of the ice rink’s reopening is still tentative now, the upcoming months will likely present more concrete details.
