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High Costs, Demographics Force Pickwick Ice Arena to Close

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The Pickwick Arena in Burbank, home to figure skaters, speed skaters and hockey players for 29 years, will turn out the lights for good Sept. 30.

Carey Adams, Pickwick’s general manager, made the announcement Monday night. He said the arena’s owners explored “every avenue to keep the rink open--to no avail.”

Adams cited the cost of repairs, liability insurance and changing demographics as reasons for the decision.

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“The roof is in bad shape and we got an estimate of $150,000 to fix it,” he said. “A guy broke his wrist on the ice and is suing for $100,000. The kids aren’t coming as much any more for recreational skating, and the dedicated groups want a different kind of facility--more amenities, more of a club atmosphere.”

Pickwick is the only rink in the northern part of Los Angeles County large enough to conduct a qualifying competition for regional and national figure skating championships.

Adams said Pickwick has an 85-by-200-foot ice surface and seating for 2,000.

Rinks recently have closed in Santa Monica, West Covina, Brea, Topanga Plaza, Tarzana and Santa Barbara, and there is talk of closing the rink at Laurel Plaza in North Hollywood as part of a mall expansion program.

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