Paradice Avondale
{{short description|Public sports venue in Auckland, New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Paradice Avondale
| logo_image = Paradice Avondale logo.png
| image = 20230307 165133 Paradice Avondale.jpg
| image_size = 270px
| location = 150 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand, 0600
| opened = {{Start date and age|p=yes|May 1981}}
| renovated = {{Start date and age|p=yes|May 2011}}
New ice floor, dasher boards and refrigeration system
| capacity = 500
| surface = Ice - {{convert|60|x|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| tenants = West Auckland Admirals (2005–present)
Auckland Steel (2014–present)
Auckland Mako (2021–present)
| website = {{URL|https://www.paradice.co.nz/}}
| coordinates = {{coord | -36.90537 | 174.69994 |display=inline,title}}
}}
Paradice Avondale is an ice sports and public skate centre, opened in May 1981 as an indoor ice rink and entertainment centre. It is located in the New Zealand city of Auckland, in the western-suburbs, at Avondale. It is the current home venue of the West Auckland Admirals in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) and Auckland Steel in the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL). It is also used as one of two home venues of the Auckland Mako in the NZIHL. The arena is the oldest and largest operational ice sports centre in Auckland.{{cite web|url=https://www.theurbanlist.com/nz/a-list/ice-skating-auckland |title=Where To Go Ice Skating In Auckland |publisher=theurbanlist.com |accessdate=27 February 2023 | first=Natasha | last=van der Laan | date=22 January 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218235228/https://www.theurbanlist.com/nz/a-list/ice-skating-auckland |archivedate=18 February 2023 |url-status=live }}
History
Paradice Avondale, located on Lansford Crescent, was opened in May 1981 by Ross Blong and his wife. It was the former dairy farming couple's second ice rink, having established the 'Paradice' name with their first rink in Glen Innes when they bought it and took over operations in 1974. In 1980, Ross and his wife decided to build a new indoor multi-purpose entertainment facility, including the first international standard Olympic-sized ice rink in New Zealand. The build took a year and a half and by May 1981 the new facility was opened to the public. The rink has proven popular over the years, with public and community ice skating, ice hockey, curling and other ice sports being played at the arena by people of all ages. Throughout the history of the rink, it has remained a family business with Ross' children, Rosie Armstrong, Chris Blong and Darren Blong, taking on ownership roles at Avondale and the sister-facility in Botany. Since 2005, Paradice Avondale has played host and become a home venue for multiple elite ice sports programs in New Zealand, hosting NZIHL and NZWIHL games. In 2011, the venue was extensively renovated with a new ice floor and refrigeration system installed as well new dasher boards around the edge of the rink.{{cite web|url=https://www.paradice.co.nz/ice-skating/ |title=Paradice a brief History |publisher=Paradice Ice Skating |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125073234/https://www.paradice.co.nz/ice-skating/ |archivedate=25 January 2023 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/97575116/popularity-of-ice-skating-on-the-rise-as-young-aucklanders-get-involved |title=Popularity of ice skating on the rise as young Aucklanders get involved |publisher=stuff.co.nz |accessdate=27 February 2023 | first=Jackson | last=Thomas | date=6 October 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504100903/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/97575116/popularity-of-ice-skating-on-the-rise-as-young-aucklanders-get-involved |archivedate=4 May 2019 |url-status=live }}
Facilities
The arena's facilities were built in 1981{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/go-nz-best-places-to-ice-skate-in-new-zealand/U6UBCDXMYXRMQF6TLCJZA7Y3YM/ |title=Go NZ: Best places to ice skate in New Zealand |publisher=New Zealand Herald |accessdate=27 February 2023 | first=Juliette | last=Sivertsen | date=7 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112033841/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/go-nz-best-places-to-ice-skate-in-new-zealand/U6UBCDXMYXRMQF6TLCJZA7Y3YM/ |archivedate=12 January 2023 |url-status=live }} and have been gradually updated with the last major upgrade coming in 2011. They include:{{cite web|url=https://www.bookme.co.nz/things-to-do/auckland/activity/paradice-ice-skating-avondale/8381 |title=Paradice Ice Skating - Avondale |publisher=bookme.co.nz |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131022706/https://www.bookme.co.nz/things-to-do/auckland/activity/paradice-ice-skating-avondale/8381 |archivedate=31 January 2023 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohockey.com/arena/781-paradice-ice-skating--avondale.html |title=Paradice Ice Skating - Avondale |publisher=eurohockey.com |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813221606/https://www.eurohockey.com/arena/781-paradice-ice-skating--avondale.html |archivedate=13 August 2022 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.paradice.co.nz/laser-tag-avondale/ |title=Paradice Laser Tag Avondale |publisher=Paradice Ice Skating |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127153248/https://www.paradice.co.nz/laser-tag-avondale/ |archivedate=27 January 2023 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.paradice.co.nz/avondale-birthday-parties/ |title=Birthday parties at Paradice |publisher=Paradice Ice Skating |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125074546/https://www.paradice.co.nz/avondale-birthday-parties/ |archivedate=25 January 2023 |url-status=live }}
- 60 m × 30 m ice rink (Olympic sized with disco LED lighting)
- 500 spectator capacity
- Skate and equipment hire
- Café
- Snack bar
- Laser tag
- Birthday party room
- Public toilets
- Lockers
- Outdoor parking
Events
The arena hosts public skating and disco nights events. Paradice Avondale is associated with a number of ice sports clubs and associations that operate a number of junior, community and elite level programs and events at the venue. These include Auckland Ice Hockey Association, Hockey House, New Zealand Ice Figure Skating Association, Allegro Ice Dance Club, Auckland Ice Figure Skating Club, Glenburn Figure Skating Club, Hauraki Ice Racing Club, Ice Speed Skating New Zealand and Auckland Curling Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.paradice.co.nz/ice-sports/ice-sport-clubs/ |title=Ice Sport Clubs |publisher=Paradice Ice Skating |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127153627/https://www.paradice.co.nz/ice-sports/ice-sport-clubs/ |archivedate=27 January 2023 |url-status=live }} The arena organises its own skating academy that holds events throughout the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.paradice.co.nz/learn-to-skate/events/ |title=Events |publisher=Paradice Ice Skating |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214082429/https://www.paradice.co.nz/learn-to-skate/events/ |archivedate=14 February 2021 |url-status=live }} The arena hosts national level ice hockey games during the NZIHL and NZWIHL seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzwihl.com/nzwihl-history/ |title=NZWIHL History |publisher=New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League |accessdate=25 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224132220/https://www.nzwihl.com/nzwihl-history/ |archivedate=24 February 2023 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nzihl.com/west-auckland-admirals/ |title=West Auckland Admirals |publisher=New Zealand Ice Hockey League |accessdate=27 February 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221010428/https://www.nzihl.com/west-auckland-admirals/ |archivedate=21 February 2023 |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.paradice.co.nz/}}
- [https://www.nzihl.com/ New Zealand Ice Hockey League]
- [https://www.nzwihl.com/ New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League]
{{Portal bar|Ice hockey|New Zealand}}
{{Sport in New Zealand}}
{{Ice hockey in New Zealand}}
{{NZIHL}}
{{NZWIHL}}
{{Whau Local Board Area}}
Category:Sports venues in Auckland
Category:Ice hockey venues in New Zealand
Category:1981 establishments in New Zealand
Category:Sports venues completed in 1981