Bauer Helps Messier's Kingsbridge Rinks

[DarkStar50 679]

Now that the "If you build it, they will come" has been opened let's think some more about some other numbers. Specifically, ROI, return on investment. At $600 to $700 an hour to rent, a few questions quickly appear. Which travel teams or mens league teams will have the money for these rates? BTW, by the time these 9 rinks are ready, management will probably be seeking $800 an hour for ice rental. Where will these travel teams competing out of Kingsbridge find the money within their own organizations to cover the cost of ice time? How much can a travel team charge at the mite or squirt level as fees to cover the cost of ice rental? I'm not saying it cannot and will not be done but there will be a separation between those who want to play travel hockey out of Kingsbridge and those who can actually afford to pay for their kids ice time at these rates.

ROI on this facility is at least 7-8 years out before they turn a profit at $350mil to open the building. Keeping that in mind, final cost to open 9 sheets could run north of $500mil. I talked to a guy that sold rink set ups from the ground up. His thoughts were add an extra 3 months to any rink set up given unforeseen problems that occur. Every rink has them. Here they are looking to place them in an existing building. This building will have to be 'buttoned up tight" to keep it sealed against all outside elements. The high ceilings on the 4 second floor rinks will be a problem. Setting up 3 mega ice plants to generate the cooling units and keeping them close to the final rink destination will be a substantial opening cost and long term expense. Con Ed in NY will love billing this place monthly.

The idea of all these mens teams heading to Kingsbridge is valid. Time will tell if it happens. However even if Kingsbridge sells out from 8 pm to 1 am for mens league Sunday through Thursday, they are still left with selling ice time on 9 rinks from 7 am to 7pm daily. That is a staggering amount of hours that will be hard pressed to fill with figure skating sessions, practice hockey times, and public session. A rink not in use is burning money and energy. Even if 4 or 5 are being used, to have the other 4 or 5 sit vacant is eating into ROI. Numbers and $$ are everything at the end of the day. If you are not selling ice, you are not making $$.

Opening the building will also be a work in progress. Don't expect 9 sheets to open at once. They will have to open the rinks as they are finished. The goal would be a grand opening of all 9 at once but how will they find 6 to 9 crews to get this done? Not in the Northeast. So the staggered opening will take some of the luster off the product and likely expose problems with those rinks and service before the others are completed. You take what you get when you get it but to think it will be smooth sailing from Day One is a bit too much to ask for.

[nystromshairstylist 14]

Now that the "If you build it, they will come" has been opened let's think some more about some other numbers. Specifically, ROI, return on investment. At $600 to $700 an hour to rent, a few questions quickly appear. Which travel teams or mens league teams will have the money for these rates? BTW, by the time these 9 rinks are ready, management will probably be seeking $800 an hour for ice rental. Where will these travel teams competing out of Kingsbridge find the money within their own organizations to cover the cost of ice time? How much can a travel team charge at the mite or squirt level as fees to cover the cost of ice rental? I'm not saying it cannot and will not be done but there will be a separation between those who want to play travel hockey out of Kingsbridge and those who can actually afford to pay for their kids ice time at these rates.

ROI on this facility is at least 7-8 years out before they turn a profit at $350mil to open the building. Keeping that in mind, final cost to open 9 sheets could run north of $500mil. I talked to a guy that sold rink set ups from the ground up. His thoughts were add an extra 3 months to any rink set up given unforeseen problems that occur. Every rink has them. Here they are looking to place them in an existing building. This building will have to be 'buttoned up tight" to keep it sealed against all outside elements. The high ceilings on the 4 second floor rinks will be a problem. Setting up 3 mega ice plants to generate the cooling units and keeping them close to the final rink destination will be a substantial opening cost and long term expense. Con Ed in NY will love billing this place monthly.

The idea of all these mens teams heading to Kingsbridge is valid. Time will tell if it happens. However even if Kingsbridge sells out from 8 pm to 1 am for mens league Sunday through Thursday, they are still left with selling ice time on 9 rinks from 7 am to 7pm daily. That is a staggering amount of hours that will be hard pressed to fill with figure skating sessions, practice hockey times, and public session. A rink not in use is burning money and energy. Even if 4 or 5 are being used, to have the other 4 or 5 sit vacant is eating into ROI. Numbers and $$ are everything at the end of the day. If you are not selling ice, you are not making $$.

Opening the building will also be a work in progress. Don't expect 9 sheets to open at once. They will have to open the rinks as they are finished. The goal would be a grand opening of all 9 at once but how will they find 6 to 9 crews to get this done? Not in the Northeast. So the staggered opening will take some of the luster off the product and likely expose problems with those rinks and service before the others are completed. You take what you get when you get it but to think it will be smooth sailing from Day One is a bit too much to ask for.

My understanding is that 5 rinks will be built and completed first, and then demand will determine whether the final 4 are also constructed.

[DarkStar50 679]

When/where did you hear this?

[DarkStar50 679]

I wonder why the cost went from $270mil to $350mil if they are only going to build 5 rinks, not 9 as originally planned?

[Chadd 916]

I wonder why the cost went from $270mil to $350mil if they are only going to build 5 rinks, not 9 as originally planned?

Lots of palms to grease

[Snipuh21 0]

As a former New York City hockey parent, I find the idea that the Kingsbridge rinks will be filled with youth hockey teams laughable. The only travel hockey programs in the city are the Cyclones, Skyliners, Brooklyn Stars and Aviator, all Tier 2 or below. There is no Tier 1 hockey out of NYC because there are not enough good players in NYC. There are very good travel programs in every direction surrounding the city (Westchester Express, Mid Fairfield Rangers, North Jersey Avalanche, Long Island Royals). The idea that those kids are going to drive IN to the Bronx is ridiculous.

[DarkStar50 679]

http://www.norwoodnews.org/id=17766&story=knic-lease-in-escrow-pending-full-funding-of-project/

Given the March 2016(less than ten months) deadline for full funding of $350mil, Messier has opened a link on GoFundMe.com for any and all donations. Now is the time to be an athletic supporter!

If you believe that, I also have a bridge in NYC to sell you also. However, KNIC is not exactly moving along as scheduled.

[ulf 5]

have the rangers play a few games in here yearly, and watch it take off. as for selling ice time. why not just buy up surrounding land for hotels and restaurants and turn it into tournament rinks like marlborough.

[Chadd 916]

have the rangers play a few games in here yearly, and watch it take off. as for selling ice time. why not just buy up surrounding land for hotels and restaurants and turn it into tournament rinks like marlborough.

If they are having problems coming up with the money to build the rinks, then buying up more land is probably out of the question.

[beerleaguecaptain 999]

Like I have said on this thread and others... this will NEVER be built. And if by some nightmarish miracle it is, it will be a disastrous waste of money that will lie largely empty.

[SirJW 207]

dk, Brooklyn is over, Da Bronx is the last place left in NYC for Hipsters and developers to invade. Watch the changes the next few years ( See Grand Concourse near Yankee Stadium already).

[DarkStar50 679]

have the rangers play a few games in here yearly, and watch it take off. as for selling ice time. why not just buy up surrounding land for hotels and restaurants and turn it into tournament rinks like marlborough.

Sorry but you can't charge Marlborough rates in NYC. Plus drawing teams into metro NYC month after month would never be easy. Finally, Dolan would never allow the Rangers into a 5000 seat building within 2 miles of MSG when he has 19,000 every game at MSG. $$$$$$.