We here at the Rink wanted to take a moment and thank all of users for another great year. 2014-2015 marks several milestones for all of us including Year 5 of all our programs here at the rink and year 10 for the Eugene General Junior Team. It seems like yesterday that all of us were sitting in a room at the County testifying to our reasons why the rink should remain an asset within the community. Five years later, we’ve proven that ice sports in Lane County is stronger and growing in many different facets.
This email will be a bit long, but please take a minute to read it as it pertains important information about the scheduling and ice booking process for the upcoming season.
Upgrades to the Facility
Thanks to the dedication of the user groups improvements to the facility continued in the past year with both visible and behind the scene upgrades including:
Over the next year, in addition to general upgrades, the new Full Ice Viewing Bar, which includes outlets to charge all of your mobile devices while in full view of the ice, will be completed. Some of you got a preview of that project before closing.
In addition, the Rink will move to improve services and products this year looking to find synergies in all programs to help promote the growth in ice sports. This includes Adult Hockey, Birthday Parties, Educational Classes and Sessions, Eugene Generals Hockey, Figure Skating and Ice Dancing, Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Programs, Oregon Ducks Hockey, Public Session, Private Ice Rental, Speed Skating, and Youth Hockey.
Ice Pricing
For the upcoming season, the rates have been increased to $285 per hour and booking and billing policies will not change. There hasn’t been a rate increase since the 2012-2013 where rates went from $250 to $265 per hour. These rate increases came from EWEB in December of 2012 and again on May of 2013. The first was an 8% increase and the latest one is an 5% one that was absorbed last year so programs wouldn’t be adversely affected on such short notice. Since May of 2013, there has one other rate increase. EWEB rates affect our electricity, water, storm water, and waste water expenses. This facility (more than a normal rink of this size and capacity) uses a crazy amount of both water and electricity.
Utilities are our single largest expense. However, in previous seasons, most, but not all of the increases, were offset with changes to the facility’s energy usage patterns. Such gains in efficiency in the current or in upcoming years without serious investments in infrastructure and equipment is unlikely.
In future years, expect to have a 5% to 8% increase the facility has reached a diminishing return with reasonable investments and efforts towards energy efficiency, but rates will continue to increases for all of our utilities. Plus, some consideration must be made towards saving for large capital projects (the two ice resurfacers will need replacement soon). So, plan accordingly for the 2015-2016 season.
Separately, we wanted to thank everyone for their effort in minimizing risk in the facility this year. Across all of our groups claims were relatively low which kept insurance rates from increasing more than necessary. Unlike the previous years, our rates did go up unfortunately. Also, as rink usage goes up, the insurance premium also increases.
The goal is to maintain a near state of the art facility while doing so in the most cost efficient manner so groups and the rink can deliver a product that has high value relative to other options. Ice sports needs to be competitive against even the most popular and successful sports in our area.
Adult Hockey Programs
This season the adult league will come back within the operations of the rink. Over the last four years, Jon Hoyt has successfully operated the Adult program, but with the changing needs of adult users, the program is being moved in-house. That program will now become insured through USA Hockey without adversely affecting the rates charged to adult hockey players. That decision to choose USA Hockey insurance over the current insurance and league administrative method includes:
In addition to the general benefits of the insurance change, the following improvements will be made to the league
Scheduling
By now, Toshia has contacted most of you about your scheduling preference for the upcoming season. We will look at all the requests, and in most cases be able to schedule your group in the same time slot that you had used in the previous season. However, due to such wonderful efforts by all of you, ice usage has grown and we do have competition for certain ice slots. Over the next week, we will review all of the user's requests and may contact you individually about possible alternatives, if we have not already, so that we can accommodate as many users as possible as close to the times and days requested. We ask that you consider the entire picture if we send you a possible alternative to your original request.
We’ve already completed agreements with most of our users and bills for ice starting August 15th is already out. Please be prompt with payment as our bills pile quickly the minute those compressors turn on. This year, they go on July 27th. Our policy regarding ice payments will also not change. You will be billed 45 days in advance with payments due 30 days before the month of ice usage. The first bills went out on June 15 and were due July 1 for groups that will be taking the ice in August. As you can see, ice is just around the corner.
New Programs and Events
Lastly, there are exciting new programs coming to or have been expanded at the Rink. Some include:
Again, we thank you for your support and patronage this past year and look forward to another great year of ice sports in our facility.
This email will be a bit long, but please take a minute to read it as it pertains important information about the scheduling and ice booking process for the upcoming season.
Upgrades to the Facility
Thanks to the dedication of the user groups improvements to the facility continued in the past year with both visible and behind the scene upgrades including:
- Radiant Natural Gas Heat on East Bleachers
- Full Building Secure Wireless Connectivity
- Three Flat Screen TVs with Direct TV service
- Full Time Service of Two Ice Resurfacers (well most of the time)
- Locker Room Heating and Ventilation
- Replacement of Both Water Heaters (serving lobby bathrooms)
- Increase Product at our Pro Shop (with more to come in 2014)
- New Compressor High Pressure Valves and new flanges (that supports continued upgrades and maintenance into the future)
- Fixed loose tiles in Locker Room 1
- Continued improvement (ramp installation) to improve door and ice performance at ice resurfacer door
Over the next year, in addition to general upgrades, the new Full Ice Viewing Bar, which includes outlets to charge all of your mobile devices while in full view of the ice, will be completed. Some of you got a preview of that project before closing.
In addition, the Rink will move to improve services and products this year looking to find synergies in all programs to help promote the growth in ice sports. This includes Adult Hockey, Birthday Parties, Educational Classes and Sessions, Eugene Generals Hockey, Figure Skating and Ice Dancing, Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Programs, Oregon Ducks Hockey, Public Session, Private Ice Rental, Speed Skating, and Youth Hockey.
Ice Pricing
For the upcoming season, the rates have been increased to $285 per hour and booking and billing policies will not change. There hasn’t been a rate increase since the 2012-2013 where rates went from $250 to $265 per hour. These rate increases came from EWEB in December of 2012 and again on May of 2013. The first was an 8% increase and the latest one is an 5% one that was absorbed last year so programs wouldn’t be adversely affected on such short notice. Since May of 2013, there has one other rate increase. EWEB rates affect our electricity, water, storm water, and waste water expenses. This facility (more than a normal rink of this size and capacity) uses a crazy amount of both water and electricity.
Utilities are our single largest expense. However, in previous seasons, most, but not all of the increases, were offset with changes to the facility’s energy usage patterns. Such gains in efficiency in the current or in upcoming years without serious investments in infrastructure and equipment is unlikely.
In future years, expect to have a 5% to 8% increase the facility has reached a diminishing return with reasonable investments and efforts towards energy efficiency, but rates will continue to increases for all of our utilities. Plus, some consideration must be made towards saving for large capital projects (the two ice resurfacers will need replacement soon). So, plan accordingly for the 2015-2016 season.
Separately, we wanted to thank everyone for their effort in minimizing risk in the facility this year. Across all of our groups claims were relatively low which kept insurance rates from increasing more than necessary. Unlike the previous years, our rates did go up unfortunately. Also, as rink usage goes up, the insurance premium also increases.
The goal is to maintain a near state of the art facility while doing so in the most cost efficient manner so groups and the rink can deliver a product that has high value relative to other options. Ice sports needs to be competitive against even the most popular and successful sports in our area.
Adult Hockey Programs
This season the adult league will come back within the operations of the rink. Over the last four years, Jon Hoyt has successfully operated the Adult program, but with the changing needs of adult users, the program is being moved in-house. That program will now become insured through USA Hockey without adversely affecting the rates charged to adult hockey players. That decision to choose USA Hockey insurance over the current insurance and league administrative method includes:
- A reduction of the cost of the umbrella general liability policy. Using USA Hockey insurance places adult hockey in the lowest risk pool.
- An opportunity for Adult Programs (such a Adult Learn to Play) to share coaches and ice with Youth programs (such as Learn to Skate and Intro to Hockey)
- An increase in excess medical and catastrophic medical coverage for all of our participants (players, coaches, referees, staff, etc.)
- An addition of general liability coverage for all our participants (players, coaches, referees, staff, etc.) which is not currently available to any participants.
- The opportunity for our referees to have movement between leagues (Junior, Adult, College, and Youth) so as to have a true development ladder. It also opens referees to referee the maximum amount of games across all leagues in order to make officiating more financially viable. The hope here is to develop high quality officiating in both the short and long term not just through organized training and certification, but through high number of opportunities to officiate at various levels.
- Lowering the insurance barriers to host or play other teams in other facilities who are currently insured through USA Hockey (WSC, Sherwood, and Mountain View are now insured through USA Hockey).
- Opening up opportunities for teams to play in State and District play downs and therefore qualify for state, district and national tournaments
- Ensure that all of our personnel that work with youth (or may be in a position to influence youth) are properly screened
- To increase the opportunity to reinvest all adult hockey dollars into the facility and to improve the general adult hockey experience
- To join an organization that has an established policy and procedure with regards to administering hockey leagues and programs
In addition to the general benefits of the insurance change, the following improvements will be made to the league
- Online Registration through Pointstreak that allows for variable payment plans (more details to follow in the coming weeks)
- Register by phone or at the Front Desk
- Register by mail (for those of you still out there who use the Post Office)
- Real Time Scoring (stats will be immediately available online as the game is played)
- Aggregation of stats across seasons. (Career stats)
- Christmas Time Live Broadcast of Adult League Games (Free of charge)
Scheduling
By now, Toshia has contacted most of you about your scheduling preference for the upcoming season. We will look at all the requests, and in most cases be able to schedule your group in the same time slot that you had used in the previous season. However, due to such wonderful efforts by all of you, ice usage has grown and we do have competition for certain ice slots. Over the next week, we will review all of the user's requests and may contact you individually about possible alternatives, if we have not already, so that we can accommodate as many users as possible as close to the times and days requested. We ask that you consider the entire picture if we send you a possible alternative to your original request.
We’ve already completed agreements with most of our users and bills for ice starting August 15th is already out. Please be prompt with payment as our bills pile quickly the minute those compressors turn on. This year, they go on July 27th. Our policy regarding ice payments will also not change. You will be billed 45 days in advance with payments due 30 days before the month of ice usage. The first bills went out on June 15 and were due July 1 for groups that will be taking the ice in August. As you can see, ice is just around the corner.
New Programs and Events
Lastly, there are exciting new programs coming to or have been expanded at the Rink. Some include:
- Summer Roller Hockey Drop-In
- Summer Bicycle Polo (Summer 2015)
- Men’s Roller Derby
- Eugene Celebration Tournament – August 18 thru 20 (So far 8 teams at B and 2 teams at C Level)
- Hockey Academy – Expansion into Pre-Season (August/September) and continued post season (March/April)
- Intro to Hockey – Expansion into Pre-Season (August/September) and continued post season (March/April)
- Pre-Season 3v3 League (Coming August/September)
- Holiday Show
- Partnership with Willamalane (trying to increase awareness in the Springfield area) 18 new skaters participated in March/April classes last season.
Again, we thank you for your support and patronage this past year and look forward to another great year of ice sports in our facility.
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