CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council on Tuesday approved a rental agreement with the owners of a new junior hockey team for the use of an ice arena.
Zulima Lopez, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities, spoke during the council's work session Tuesday in the temporary chambers of the Lyric, 230 W. Yellowstone Highway.
Lopez and Recreation Manager Nicholas Whipps discuss a three- to five-year agreement with Blade Edge Ventures LLC to lease Casper Ice Arena as a hockey venue for the National University Development Council.・This was detailed in a memo to Mr. Napier.
In March, the Casper Roughnecks junior hockey team announced it would be disbanding this year.
Then the commissioner of the U.S. Premier Hockey League and owner of the new National Collegiate Development Council approached Casper Ice Arena about putting a franchise in Casper.
The BladeVentures team will compete in the Rocky Mountain Division of the conference against teams from cities such as Rock Springs, Ogden and Provo in Utah and Pueblo in Colorado.
Owner Chris Reeves has asked for a five-year contract with two automatic three-year extensions through May 2027 unless either City or the Blade Ventures request a termination.
In addition to a long-term deal, Lopez said the rental deal will include some notable changes from previous junior hockey deals, including what he learned from signing with the Roughnecks. She listed these in her notes.
- Rental fees increase by 3% each year.
- Office, warehouse, locker room, and rental fees will increase at an annual rate of 3%.
- Fees for certain City facilities will increase by 3% each year.
- Releases the City from liability for damages resulting from the interruption or closure of construction of the second sheet of ice.
- Establishing an enforceable code of conduct
Mayor Steve Cathy asked if Reeves had a local owner or if he was the only owner, since previous teams had local co-owners.
Reeves said in a video conference that he is the sole owner through a holding company.
“The big difference between the teams that have been here and the teams that are coming is that kids are paying money to play,” Reeves said. “We have to do a really good job in the community and we have to get local and corporate sponsorship as well. So we have to do our due diligence to make this work.”
