Romford Ice Arena facts for kids
The Romford Ice Arena was a popular ice rink located in Romford, a town in the London Borough of Havering, England. It first opened its doors in 1987 and quickly became a busy spot for many activities. After serving the community for many years, the arena closed down in April 2013.
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What Was Romford Ice Arena?
Romford Ice Arena was built in the 1980s and opened in 1987. It was a modern place with lots of things to do. Inside, you could find a cafe to grab a snack and even arcade games for some extra fun! It was a great place for people of all ages to enjoy ice-related sports and activities.
Home to Ice Hockey and Skating
The arena was best known as the home of the Romford Raiders ice hockey team. Their very first game at the rink was on Sunday, September 13, 1987. The Romford Raiders played against the Oxford City Stars and won with a score of 9-6! A player from Oxford City Stars, David Jones, scored the first goal of that game. But the Raiders' first goal was scored by Erskine Douglas.
Besides exciting ice hockey matches, the arena also had professional figure skating coaches. This meant people could learn to glide and spin gracefully on the ice.
More Than Just Skating
Romford Ice Arena wasn't just for sports. It was also a place where the public could come for fun skating sessions. Imagine having a birthday party on the ice – you could do that there! The arena was also used as a place for meetings and events, known as a conference centre. The local government, the London Borough of Havering Council, owned the building and rented it out.
A Moment in the Spotlight
In December 2007, the Romford Ice Arena even appeared on TV! It was featured in a special Christmas advertisement for the BBC, one of the UK's biggest TV channels.
Why Did Romford Ice Arena Close?
In 2011, there were talks about tearing down the Romford Ice Arena and building a brand new one. The new plan included exciting additions like a gym and a swimming pool. However, it was later decided to simply fix up the existing building instead of replacing it.
Sadly, in April 2013, the Romford Ice Arena closed for good. The building was taken down to make way for a new Morrisons supermarket. But don't worry, Romford wasn't left without an ice rink for long! A brand new leisure centre, which includes a new ice rink, has been built in Romford town centre on Western Road.
