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Skating community urges year‑round ice; Pensacola Bay Center outlines $10M renovation plan and ice‑season work
Summary
Local skaters urged the Tourist Development Council to support a year‑round ice surface to attract tournaments and hotel room nights; Bay Center staff outlined a $10 million renovation plan and a July–September ice‑plant replacement.
Speakers from the local ice‑sports community told the Tourist Development Council on Feb. 18 that lack of predictable, year‑round ice at the Pensacola Bay Center forces teams and competitions to travel out of the area and costs local tourism dollars.
Sharon Gobert, a 25‑year Escambia County resident who represents the Greater Pensacola Figure Skating Club, said the region currently lacks consistent ice and that contract constraints at the Bay Center prevent hosting competitions, camps and tournaments that could bring hotel nights. “We routinely receive tourism inquiries from skaters who need daily ice when they’re traveling,” Gobert said. “There is no ice rink competition for almost 250…
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