Irvine Ice Rink Headed for Bankruptcy

The operators of the Irvine Ice Arena, who have fought the sale of the property for a future synagogue, have filed for bankruptcy.

In addition, the owners of the land have filed two lawsuits against the rink operators, one to evict them and the other seeking about $450,000 in back rent.

But the action does not necessarily put an end to ice skating in Irvine. The City Council last Wednesday voted to establish a task force to search for land to build an ice rink or other sports facility. Councilman Larry Agran said that could include private or public land or a partnership between the two.

He said the operators would not necessarily be the same people who run the Irvine Ice Arena.

The bankruptcy slows the sale of the property to University Synagogue, a Reconstructionist congregation that has outgrown the space it has rented from Irvine United Church of Christ for 10 years.

Escrow was supposed to close by mid-month. Art Lipton, president of the Irvine synagogue, said he still expects escrow this month. “It’s strictly between [the ice rink operators] and the landlord,” Lipton said. “All I care about is the landlord giving us clear title.”

The eviction proceeding is scheduled for an Aug. 23 hearing in Orange County Superior Court.

Rick Augustini, lawyer for property owners Irvine Recreation Park, said Tuesday he expected the judge to agree that the ice rink must vacate the property. He doesn’t think it will be necessary, but Augustini said he is prepared to send the marshal to the ice arena to physically evict Stephen and Linda Coonan, who operate the facility.

Linda Coonan on Tuesday called the bankruptcy “hardly unavoidable.” She said she didn’t know anything about the two lawsuits.

Her husband had previously said that the rink’s financial problems were caused by an unfavorable bank loan and revenue shortfall of $600,000 annually.

The battle against the synagogue sale had brought accusations of anti-Semitism. Fliers showing “University Synagogue” with a circle and slash though it were posted. And as temple members arrived for a Friday night service in July, pickets greeted them, some carrying U.S. flags.

The bankruptcy petition, filed Aug. 9 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana, lists assets and debts of AAA Adventures Inc., the corporate name for the rink operators, as ranging from $1,000,001 to $10 million. The Coonans are not the only investors.

The only creditor listed is Daniel J. Coonan, the father of co-owner Stephen Coonan. The petition, filed under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy law, says there are 16 to 49 creditors. The others may be listed later.