Berkeley Iceland is a historic 67 year-old skating rink on the Corner of Milvia and Derby. It became a Berkeley landmark on April 5, 2005.The rink is unique in several regards; it is the largest ice surface in Northern California, it seats 3,000 people, it has hosted 3 national championships including the first west of the Mississippi, back in 1947, and has launched the skating careers of many famous skaters including Peggy Fleming and Kristi Yamaguchi.
It was a wonderful recreational treasure for the City and beyond. It was a great place for kids and teens to play in a safe, healthy environment. On Friday and Saturday nights over 300 teens gather to socialize and skate under the disco ball. Kids and adults of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities share the ice as one big happy family.
The owners of Berkeley Iceland put the for sale sign on the building a year ago for 6.45 million, but got no takers for selling it as a rink. Now they are willing to sell it for any purpose, and developers are looking at it. They also shut the doors of the rink on March 31st. They say that the required refrigeration and ice surface upgrades are too expensive to do, and they aren’t making a sufficient profit. This points to a larger shift in the ice rink industry – when the current owners bought the rink most were privately owned, but now the majority are owned by cities or non-profits.
Save Berkeley Iceland, a project of Bay Area Blades, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, (www.saveberkeleyiceland.org) formed with the goal of preserving, owning, restoring and operating the rink. It is a grass-roots group of skaters, parents, and concerned community members. It is currently fundraising to purchase the rink
In five weeks of fund-raising, Save Berkeley Iceland has raised nearly $65,000, and are confident they can raise the 2.5 million to reach their short-term goal if given more time. These funds would go toward purchase of the building, listed at 6.5 million, and renovation of the ice surface and chiller system so that the rink can reopen.
Save Berkeley Iceland’s business team is comprised of very capable and experienced business professionals who have volunteered their efforts. They have put together both a business plan and financial plan. They are well aware that the City doesn’t need or want additional debt. They are not asking for direct funding from the City. Instead they are asking for loan guarantees, to lower the interest rate paid, so that as much of the funds raised as go toward purchasing and restoring the facility.