Ice Arena Wales is the only ice rink in South Wales and hosts not only the Cardiff Devils, but, arguably more importantly, is the only place that accommodates grass roots and amateur ice hockey players and figure skaters.

When it was first opened it was a two-pad ice rink which meant that the elite teams, figure skaters, learn to play skaters, grass roots hockey and amateur hockey along with recreational teams were able to train and play at the rink on a regular basis. In addition, it meant that there was little competition for ice time with the public skate sessions.

When the rink was closed as a result of the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 the impact on these sports and children was phenomenal. When the rink was eventually opened at the beginning of 2022, only one pad was re-opened and the other pad (“Pad 2”) was altered to a concrete pad which, whilst ice would have been preferred, at least allowed the opportunity for roller hockey, off ice sessions to be held for development camps, as well as unicycle and other sports to take place. 

Cardiff Council (who are now the owners of Ice Arena Wales) have decided to sub-let Pad 2 to a company who intend to put a climbing wall and soft play on the rink thereby effectively scuppering any chance of Pad 2 ever becoming an ice rink again – as it was originally intended to be. 

The effect that this will have on regular users of the ice rink will be phenomenal: there is already significant competition for ice time between the various sports which has had the ultimate effect of children and athletes losing out on ice time.

This decision by the Council appears to be purely financially motivated and will detrimentally effect all regular users of the ice rink with the ultimate effect that some children and athletes will no longer be able to play and compete in their sports. 

In this petition we are calling for Cardiff Council to think, instead of monetary gain, of the children and athletes who have already lost so much as a result of the lockdowns, and re-consider the decision to sub-let Pad 2. Pad 2, if it cannot be re-opened as an ice rink, should at the very least remain as a place which benefits the already numerous users of Ice Arena Wales on a regular basis. 

There are a significant number of climbing walls and soft play areas in Cardiff and South Wales – there is only one ice rink.