Batavia Sports Facility Management has submitted a proposal to the City of Batavia to operate and market the David McCarthy Ice Arena on Evans street.
The City of Batavia has been looking for a new operator since the end of May.
The former management company, Firland Management, who had been operating the ice arena since 2006, decided not to continue as the operator of the Evans street ice rink on May 31st.
Batavia Sports Facility Management, a joint venture between Matthew Gray, a local investor and restauranter, along with CAN-USA Sports, LLC, have combined their skills to operate the newly named rink.
Matthew Gray will manage rink operations and CAN-USA Sports will lead the sales and marketing team.
Gray currently operates a property management company that includes retail properties and a mixed-use building in downtown Batavia that houses Eli Fish Brewery and seven market rate apartments. In the past 25 years, Gray has managed nine start-up companies and has developed several brands from concept, to launch, to mature company. He is also very active in the community and volunteers in many local organizations.
The new management team plans to increase the long-term usage of the rink by targeting new local participants through marketing and will offer sunrise health programming, summer roller public skate, curling and private party rentals. They will also focus on increasing the number of events held at the arena, including trade shows, sports tournaments and concerts.
Batavia Sports Facility Management is also proposing a collaboration with the City to help carry out capital improvements and upgrades to the concession area, pro shop and meeting/party rooms. The proposed capital improvement provided by the operator will be $140,000.
The lease agreement with the City of Batavia is 5 years and will expire on July 31, 2027. Both parties agree to extend the lease agreement for three consecutive 5-year periods after the first term. Batavia Sports Facility Management, LLC will pay the City of Batavia rent and capital improvement fees. The rent and capital contributions will increase 3% each year for the terms of the extension.
The City of Batavia received three proposals for operator of the ice rink and each proposal was scored by a subcommittee of the Ice Rink Stakeholder Group. Their decision was based on the below:
Proposals by the operator
City Manager Rachael Tabelski is recommending that City Council approve of the agreement and a vote on the resolution authorizing an ice rink lease agreement with Batavia Sports Facility Management will take place during the City Council meeting Monday July 11, 2022 at 7:00p.m.