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Wandzia Grycz - 2 - August 26, 1996 DISCUSSION Last year the City partnered with the Downtown Business Association to bring a holiday rink to Downtown San Leandro. Overall, the rink was a success. School children were allowed to skate free through the City's Free Skate program and many adults enjoyed the rink during the six week period the rink was in operation. Though the rink was small in size, it generated considerable interest from San Leandro residents and area press. The ice rink is a California phenomenon that is here to stay. With the addition of two major league hockey teams in Los Angeles and San Jose, and many supporting community skating rinks, more and more Californians are taking up the sport. Five Olympic gold ice skating champions come from the Bay Area, including Peggy Fleming, Christie Yamaguchi, Debbie Thomas, Brian Boitano, and Rudy Gallindo. Children are taking up the sport in record numbers. Oakland has recently made a major commitment in opening an in- door, year-round skating facility. Last year, the City of San Leandro capitalized on the popularity of the sport by sponsoring a successful downtown skating rink. The City has an opportunity to build on that experience by continuing to support a holiday ice rink. The two greatest challenges to the program last year were the size of the rink and lack of nearby parking. This year, staff is working with the Downtown Business Association to identify sites that will allow the rink to expand in size and to provide the rink in an area that has greater adjacent parking. we The cost for the 1995 San Leandro holiday ice rink was approximately $130,000. This included the following budget components: o Staffing $ 25,000 o Service and Supplies $ 45,000 o Ice Rink Contract $ 60,000 Total $130,000 Last year, approximately 6,359 paid to skate at the rink, another 1,000 students skated free. Revenues generated through admissions fees accounted for approximately $31,000. Additional revenues, in the amount of $9,000 came to the City through private parties and corporate sponsorships. Therefore the overall cost to the City was reduced by approximately $40,000, decreasing the City's overall cost to provide the rink to $90,000. Staff estimates that the costs to provide a larger rink for the same six week period during the 1996 holiday season would range between $135,000 and $145,000. Staff estimates that the amount of revenue generated by admissions in the current year could conservatively be increased by $10,000 or an overall admissions contribution of $41,000. Revenue generation could also come from marketing the rink for company holiday parties and birthday parties. Staff conservatively estimates that private parties could raise $5,000. Due to the late time frame in which the rink was initiated last year, opportunities to obtain outside sponsorships were limited. Staff estimates that an early campaign to 01