Ice Arena Wales

{{Infobox venue

| name = Vindico Arena

| logo_image = Logo of IAW.png

| logo_caption =

| image = Ice Arena Wales (Viola Arena) 6409887 29fa64c3.jpg

| caption = Vindico Arena (as the Viola Arena) in March 2020

| fullname =

| former names = Ice Arena Wales (2016–2018, 2020–2023)
Viola Arena (2018—2020)

| address = Olympian Dr
Cardiff
CF11 0JS

| location = Cardiff International Sports Village, Cardiff Bay

| coordinates = {{coord|51.4505|-3.1817|format=dms|type:landmark|display=title,inline}}

| type =

| genre =

| broke_ground = {{Start date|2014|05|29|df=y}}

| built =

| opened = {{Start date|2016|03|12|df=y}}

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner =

| operator =

| surface =

| scoreboard =

| cost = £17M (approximately)

| architect = Scott Brownrigg

| project_manager =

| structural engineer = Arup

| services engineer =

| general_contractor =

| main_contractors = Kier Group

| seating_type =

| capacity = 3,088

| suites =

| record_attendance =

| tenants = Cardiff Devils (2016–present)

| embedded =

| website = {{URL|www.icearenawales.com/}}

| publictransit =

}}

Ice Arena Wales ({{langx|cy|Canolfan Iâ Cymru}}; known as Vindico Arena for sponsorship reasons) is an ice hockey rink in the Cardiff International Sports Village in Cardiff, Wales. It opened on 12 March 2016, and had two ice rinks and seating for 3,088 spectators. The ice rink currently only has the use of one rink, with the smaller public pad leased out by Cardiff Council to Sayers.

It is home to the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team, who play in the professional British Elite Ice Hockey League, which is the top tier of ice hockey in the UK. It replaced the Cardiff Arena, which was close to the current site. The Cardiff Arena (affectionately named the Big Blue Tent) was a temporary structure, built after the Wales National Ice Rink was demolished in September 2006. The Cardiff Devils played their first game at the arena against Belfast Giants on 12 March 2016.

History

=Construction=

File:IAW - Cardiff - 4121745 a200aa76.jpg

Cardiff Council had named the operator Planet Ice as the company they had chosen to build a new ice rink to replace the Cardiff Arena, which is a temporary structure in the Cardiff International Sports Village. Work was due to begin in early 2011, subject to planning, with the ice arena to be completed by February 2012. Planet Ice would have run the rink as well as design and build it.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-11121857|title=Planet Ice to build Cardiff rink|date=28 August 2010|publisher=BBC News|access-date=31 December 2018}}

However, by July 2011, Cardiff Council said in statement "We were unable to find the comfort that we required from them to show the ice rink would now be progressed. As a result, it is being recommended that the executive cancels the current tender. Instead it is proposed to deliver a new ice arena, as a priority, within a new waterfront tender which would go out this summer."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-14142628|title=Cardiff to review ice rink tender|date=13 July 2011|publisher=BBC News|access-date=31 December 2018}} The contract to build the arena was eventually won by the Wigan-based developers, Greenbank Partnerships. The cost of the arena is approximately £16 – £17 million and will form part of a larger £250M development, which will include a 32-storey indoor ski slope which will contain a hotel and apartments, and viewing platform. The development will also contain cafes, shops, office space, apartments and townhouses.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-22363605|title=Bay ice arena gets planning boost|date=1 May 2013|publisher=BBC News|access-date=31 December 2018}}

=Opening=

File:Inside the Ice Arena Wales February 2016.jpg

The last game in the Cardiff Arena (also known as the Big Blue Tent) was played against Coventry Blaze on 27 February 2016. The first game in Ice Arena Wales was against Belfast Giants on 12 March 2016, with the first goal scored by Joey Martin during the second period at 31:34 time played. Joey would also score the second goal at 33:37 on the way to a 5-2 Cardiff victory for the first match at the arena.

Events

=Boxing=

The IAW has also hosted boxing on three occasions, the first being on 16 July 2016.{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/login?error=limit|title=BoxRec|website=boxrec.com|access-date=31 December 2018}}

=MMA=

The IAW has hosted 3 Cage Warriors events, starting with Cage Warriors 97 on 29 September 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://cagewarriors.com/cw97-results-jack-shore-brings-home-win-for-wales/|title=CW97 results - Jack Shore brings home win for Wales|last=Staff|first=Cage Warriors|date=2018-09-29|website=Cage Warriors|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-30|archive-date=5 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305084347/https://cagewarriors.com/cw97-results-jack-shore-brings-home-win-for-wales/|url-status=dead}} Cage Warriors 100, and Cage Warriors 104 were also held at the Ice Arena Wales, on 8 December 2018 and 27 April 2019 respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://cagewarriors.com/cw100-results-shore-brings-world-gold-to-wales/|title=CW100 results - Shore brings world gold to Wales|last=Staff|first=Cage Warriors|date=2018-12-08|website=Cage Warriors|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://cagewarriors.com/cw104-results-shore-leads-the-home-country-domination-for-wales/|title=CW104 results - Shore leads the home country domination for Wales|last=Staff|first=Cage Warriors|date=2019-04-27|website=Cage Warriors|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-30|archive-date=5 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305084345/https://cagewarriors.com/cw104-results-shore-leads-the-home-country-domination-for-wales/|url-status=dead}}

Naming rights

In November 2018, the venue was renamed the Viola Arena, after a five-year naming rights deal was signed with Bridgend based financial institution, Viola.{{cite news |last=Gregory |first=Rhys |date=2018-11-22 |title=The home of Cardiff Devils to be renamed ‘Viola Arena’ in new deal |url=https://www.wales247.co.uk/the-home-of-cardiff-devils-to-be-renamed-viola-arena-in-new-deal |work=Wales247 |access-date=2021-10-03}} The name reverted to Ice Arena Wales in August 2020, after Viola went into liquidation.{{cite news | author=| title= VIOLA GROUP LIMITED, Appointment of Liquidators, The Gazette| url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3605704/| work=The Gazette| date=2020-08-03| access-date=2021-10-03}} Vindico, a south Wales based technology company, announced in May 2023 a "six-figure, five-year deal" for the venue's naming rights, renaming the venue the Vindico Arena.{{cite web |url=https://www.cardiffdevils.com/news/new-arena-naming-rights-deal/ |title=New Arena Naming rights deal confirmed :: Cardiff Devils |author= |date=2023-05-04 |website=Cardiff Devils |access-date=2023-05-04}}