A couple of years ago I had an opportunity to chair a sub-committee for the Erie Canal Harbor Development Committee. Our task was to come up with ideas to enhance the summertime experience for guests at Canalside, while at the same time reviewing potential programming submissions by groups and individuals in the community. I distinctly recall that one of the ideas that we came across was that of building a synthetic ice rink so that people could skate outdoors in the middle of the summer season. While that idea never came to fruition, I’m happy to see the initiative take hold at an upcoming event – WingFest (the National Buffalo Wing Festival).
On Saturday, August 31, 2013, WingFest and Labatt will be hosting the inaugural Labatt Blue Wingman Hockey Tournament – a two-on-two, eight team competition that will take place no matter how hot the temperatures reach. There’s no need to worry about melting ice thanks to the synthetic rink. This time pond hockey will be unfettered by almost all of Mother Nature’s curveballs*. The tournament will be held in a parking lot at Coca-Cola field, where a 20 by 40 foot synthetic ice rink will be constructed, courtesy of Pace Landscaping and Ice Rinks. “Some things just go together, like chicken wings, hockey and Labatt Blue,” said Lisa Texido, brand manager of Labatt Blue. “The Labatt Blue Wingman Hockey Tournament will allow hockey players to put on skates and actually play hockey outside, on ice, in the heat of summer. It doesn’t get much better than that. Synthetic ice is very versatile. In a matter of minutes, you can transform an area, either indoors or outdoors, into an ice skating surface that can be used anytime and in any weather.”
For more information about the ice rink, visit http://www.scan-ice.com/. I still think that the synthetic ice idea would be a great draw to the waterfront on a more permanent basis… in Buffalo there are a lot of people who own a pair of skates who would be psyched to skate outdoors on a sunny day. After watching a video on the synthetic rinks I realized that the process of construction is a lot easier than I originally assumed (see videos here).
*The 20′x40′ rink will be located near the Labatt Blue tent (Exchange Street parking lot). If thunderstorms occur on Saturday, the tournament will take place on Sunday (if weather permits). The teams are predetermined. Tournament runs from noon to 9pm.
If you’re not familiar with WingFest, then just check out the video below and you will learn everything that you need to know in just a few minutes. Warning: I made it to as far as the Bobbing for Wings (in blue cheese) segment before the video got the best of me… maybe your stomach is tougher than mine?
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