Nottingham Ice Stadium
Encyclopedia
The Nottingham Ice Stadium was an ice rink
in Nottingham
, England
1939 - 2000.
The building was first opened in 1939 but it was quickly called upon for other purposes. Throughout World War II
, the Ice Stadium acted as a store for guns, bullets and other ammunition produced at the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory
, ROF Nottingham
.
When the war ended, the building soon returned to being a recreational and ice sport building. A year after the end of the war, the Ice Stadium became the home of the Nottingham Panthers
ice hockey
team, who would use the facility until it closed, albeit with a twenty year break.
When the Panthers shut down in 1960, the rink continued to be used for ice skating
and some other ice sports and would be where Torvill and Dean
would practice in their early years.
The Panthers were re-established in 1980 and the Ice Stadium became renowned as one of the most intimidating places for opposition ice hockey teams to visit.
In 1996, plans were announced to replace the aging building with a modern arena
and a new skating pad. The Nottingham Ice Stadium was closed after 61 years in 2000. The Panthers played their final game at the Ice Stadium against the Newcastle Jesters, which was lost 2-1 in overtime. The building was demolished soon afterwards to allow for the completion of the National Ice Centre
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
1939 - 2000.
The building was first opened in 1939 but it was quickly called upon for other purposes. Throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Ice Stadium acted as a store for guns, bullets and other ammunition produced at the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
, ROF Nottingham
ROF Nottingham
Royal Ordnance Factory Nottingham, first opened in 1916 and first opened as an ROF January 1936 was one of a number of Royal Ordnance Factories created at the start of World War II.-Background:R.O.F...
.
When the war ended, the building soon returned to being a recreational and ice sport building. A year after the end of the war, the Ice Stadium became the home of the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team, who would use the facility until it closed, albeit with a twenty year break.
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
and some other ice sports and would be where Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean are British ice dancers and former British-, European-, Olympic- and World champions...
would practice in their early years.
The Panthers were re-established in 1980 and the Ice Stadium became renowned as one of the most intimidating places for opposition ice hockey teams to visit.
In 1996, plans were announced to replace the aging building with a modern arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
and a new skating pad. The Nottingham Ice Stadium was closed after 61 years in 2000. The Panthers played their final game at the Ice Stadium against the Newcastle Jesters, which was lost 2-1 in overtime. The building was demolished soon afterwards to allow for the completion of the National Ice Centre