The NHL has formed a partnership with Family Ice
Enterprises, LLC, an affiliate of Mentmore Holdings Company,
on the development and construction of NHL Skate ice and in-
line hockey facilities. Family Ice Enterprises will have the
exclusive right to develop NHL-themed ice and in-line
facilities and entertainment centers in the U.S. Mentmore
Vice Chair William Remley said construction of the first
rinks will begin this spring, with plans to develop more than
100 rinks across the country. The first two sites targeted
for the development include Exeter, NH, and St. John, IN.
Plans for NHL Skate include two regulation-sized ice sheets
with combined seating for 1,000 spectators, eight NHL-themed
locker rooms, an NHL FANtasy zone, a food court and retail
component. Each facility will include programs for youths,
adults, public skating, instructional programs and various
NHL-themed events. The league has named Mighty Ducks G Guy
Hebert and U.S. women's gold medal winner Karyn Bye as
spokespeople for the facilities. Two NHL Skate facilities
currently operate under separate owners. The first opened in
Birch Run, MI, in '97 and was developed via a licensing
agreement with Signature Sports. A facility in Danbury, CT,
expected to open this fall, is being developed by Arc (NHL).
MORE ICE, ICE, BABY: The facilities are expected to cost
between $6-7M each and NHL Senior VP Steve Solomon said that
Family Ice and the league will work together on potential
sites: "We have certain hockey knowledge. They have certain
real estate knowledge. In the final analysis, I think we'll
mutually agree on sites." Solomon said he was "hopeful we
can get at least 10 [complexes] done in the next couple of
years. And from that, we'll be able to see how fast we can
move to the next level" (Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 5/19).
FRIENDS, NOT RIVALS: NHL Enterprises currently has a
relationship with another Mentmore affiliate, Rival Sports,
the company backed by the Red Wings' Brendan Shanahan, which
designs and markets hockey branded apparel (NHL).
