Ice rink may break even

Winter Park's first ever ice skating rink may have broken even after city staff finishes poring over the numbers. City Manager Randy Knight broke the good news to the City Commission Monday.

Based on figures from the University of Central Florida's rink, Knight had previously told the Commission that he expected the rink to break even. At Monday's meeting, he tentatively delivered on that estimate.

In that same meeting the mayor and commissioners praised each other for not falling down on the job when they showed off their skills on the man-made frozen lake under a big white tent in Central Park.

"This Commission could really… I don't know what the saying is… cut a rug out there on the ice," Mayor Ken Bradley said.

Bradley's comment set off a flurry of compliments from other commissioners.

"We got great reviews from the teenagers, which I think is a good thing," Commissioner Phil Anderson said.

"I don't think any of us fell down," Commissioner Beth Dillaha said. "Well I fell down, almost."

Adding to officials' skating prowess, the city could also cut a good deal, spending $123,000 to operate the rink from Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, and collecting $127,000 in revenue. Nearly 10,000 visitors strapped on skates for $10 per person. The city also generated revenue with advertisements on the tent, helping to balance the budget.

"I don't think there's any question that we could do this again next year," Knight said, though the final tally for the liquid-cooled rink's power bill and replanting of sod under the rink has not been factored in. Knight said the final balance sheet won't be more than $5,000 in the red.

The city's biggest problem, with repeated weather fronts chilling the air, was disassembling the rink.

"We did have some trouble getting rid of the ice," Knight said. "It wouldn't melt."