https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=165962 Closed by John Turnbull Responded to information request.

https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=165962 John Turnbull contacted Catherine grimes Catherine: Believe it or not, this finally got to me and I figured I would send this memo as this is a very frequently asked questions. I don't know if your son still plays, but here is the info. to help you. This is a memo that we send when the question is asked. Date: April, 2012; updated March 2019 To: Rental Groups From: John Turnbull, Division Director Sports Subj: Proposal to open FSC earlier We understand the desire to rent ice sooner than the annual date of early October at Frank Southern Ice Arena. There are several factors that influence this issue:  FSC does have mechanical limitations to making ice. The threshold is termed by engineers as 70 degree wet-bulb temperature. That means that if it is 70 degrees outside with 100% humidity, we cannot make or hold ice. This measurement does fluctuate as many times it is 80 degrees out with less humidity and so forth. The relevant issue is that there is some risk involved with starting ice making in the middle of September and continuous ice could be interrupted.  A decision to open earlier does not rate high as a business decision and this has been proven in several similar markets and experience over the years. Currently, the arena operates at approximately a $150,000 annual deficit without calculating depreciation. In a business heavy with pumps, heating/cooling, electrical, and expensive capital equipment; depreciation has been estimated at about $100,000 annually. Extending the season adds pressure on the expense side with higher energy costs to cool in warmer weather and much more strain on mechanical equipment. It also adds pressure on the revenue side as warmer weather does not increase demand and established programs cannot fill sellable hours (learn to skate, house hockey, adult hockey, figure skating club, IU Hockey, etc.).  An unfortunate aspect of ice arenas is that once you open, you have many fixed costs to maintain the ice. Once ice is established, you must run most of the equipment regardless if anyone is in the building or not.  In 2012 we offered to open approximately mid-September, about 2 weeks before planned, for a price of $10,000. That price was based on a few factors; the average cost to operate an arena per hour over the course of two weeks and a realistic estimate of how many hours might be used/sold during that time. Those hours were about 3 per week night each week night and 6 hours per weekend day.  That offer was considered but the Blades Travel declined when the days leading up to that time were so incredibly warm. They realized we were unlikely to generate because of the heat.  Over the past 5-6 years, we have discovered that we are opening as early as mechanically possible. For example, in 2017 we scheduled to have ice ready on September 27 but had to push it back two weeks due to the heat. In 2018 we hoped to paint the ice on September 18 but had to move it 6 days because of the heat.

https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=165962 Jennifer Grubbs assigned this case to John Turnbull You can use the link to follow progress on this case.

https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=165962 Anonymous assigned this case to Paula McDevitt You can use the link to follow progress on this case.