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Sawyer Arena manager details year-round operations, chiller repairs and scheduling pressures
Summary
At the Dec. 12 Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee meeting, Sawyer Arena manager Joe Nelson described the rink's year-round workload, aging chiller and sand-floor ice system, staffing constraints and efforts to improve scheduling and public communication.
Joe Nelson, Sawyer Arena manager and athletic facilities supervisor for the Bangor School Department, told the Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee on Dec. 12 that the rink is effectively a year‑round operation and that aging equipment and staffing shortages remain top challenges.
Nelson said the arena now operates seven days a week from about March through December and that the rink’s cooling system and ice mat—installed on a sand floor—are past their typical service lifespans. "So my job starts pretty much it's become year round," Nelson said. He added that the chiller and tubing have outlived their expected life (he said the system had been designed for about 20 years and is now on year 29) and that recent testing revealed multiple leaks. Nelson said crews drained the system, performed air tests and were able to improve performance and restore better capacity.
Why it matters: the arena supports three high school teams, the Maine Junior Black Bears, youth hockey,…
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