Cypress Creek Ice and Sport Complex is Coming to Wesley Chapel in the Fall
Once upon a time, the thought of building a professional hockey rink in Florida would have cued a roar of laughter–to say nothing of the idea that a hockey team from the sunshine state could win the Stanley Cup. Well, Tampa Bay hockey and event fans have been enjoying the Amalie Arena since 1996 and the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004. And Tampa Bay residents of all ages continue to demonstrate their enthusiasm for ice sports. So what does the future of hockey and skating hold for this area?
Cypress Creek Ice and Sport Complex broke ground this past February and is scheduled to open sometime in the fall, when it will unveil the 150,500 sq. foot hockey and ice sports complex. Located at the I-75 and State Road 56 interchange, the complex will feature three NHL-sized hockey rinks, one kids rink and an Olympic-sized hockey rink.There’s enough rink space to allow for other winter sports like figure skating and even curling. In addition, the space will feature a restaurant, so guests can relax and enjoy a nice meal with the rinks in full view.
Some of the hockey rinks will convert to a multipurpose space that will accommodate basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and other sports activities, making this complex versatile enough to host a graduation ceremony. There is even a sports academy planned to train athletes for figure skating, hockey and other sports.
The enormous potential of this facility is not lost on Pasco county residents, who currently have to drive all the way to Brandon to get ice time.Now one of the biggest hockey destinations in the state is right in their back yard. Florida Hospital is a major sponsor of the $20 million facility and will offer educational programs on sports performance and injury prevention topics.
Who knows, maybe the next Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson or Kristie Yamaguchi will be lacing up their skates next year at the new Cypress Creek sports complex.
In the meantime, Let’s Go Lightning!
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