A naming contest for the ice rink complex under construction in Wesley Chapel drew some 200 suggestions.
And, the winner is: Florida Hospital Center Ice.
The name and logo were unveiled May 14 by Florida Hospital representatives and Gordie Zimmermann whose company, Z Mitch, is building the 150,000-square-foot ice rink and sports complex.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice)
The name is fitting, said Zimmermann, because so much takes place in a rink at center ice. That includes face-offs over hockey pucks and figure skaters waiting for their music cues to begin their programs, he said.
“It truly is a center for sports. It has a good ring to it,” Zimmermann said, of the name for the complex at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., off State Road 56 and near Interstate 75.
Many of the contest entries adopted “center” as part of the overall name for the ice rink.
“It’s pretty exciting that we had so much interest from the community,” said Denyse Bales-Chubb, the president and chief executive officer at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.
The hospital, which purchased naming rights for the complex, is partnering with Z Mitch on the project and will offer sports performance and injury prevention programs. Fitness and wellness programs, as well as orthopedic and outpatient rehabilitation services, also will be provided.
“Not only are we going to be a name on the building, but we’ll have a function inside the building,” Bales-Chubb said.
The complex is headed for a fall 2015 opening, likely around the same time as the nearby Tampa Premium Outlets opens, Zimmermann said.
Pre-construction work is nearly finished, and Zimmermann anticipates building construction to be underway by summer.
The facility is expected to have regional and even international appeal from youth hockey leagues to global hockey tournaments.
“We’re getting a lot of people nationwide and in Canada who are interested,” Zimmermann said.
There will be four full-sized ice rinks and a mini-rink. A removable pad will be able to double as a multi-purpose floor for basketball and other sports, including soccer and lacrosse.
A sports-themed family-style restaurant also is planned. Non-sports activities, such as dog shows and graduation ceremonies, are likely as well.
Some open house events will be sponsored this summer, Zimmermann said.
One sport that might find a home at the ice rink is curling.
University of South Florida graduate Tabitha Holden can hardly wait. She became a curling enthusiast during the last Winter Olympics.
She and other USF students joined together to find team members and a coach and donors willing to pledge funding for a curling league. But they soon learned the biggest hurdle is finding a facility that can accommodate special icing needs for curling.
Holden, 27, hasn’t given up though. Florida Hospital Center Ice could be just the place they need.
“This is a really cool game,” Holden said.
Published May 20, 2015
