Community First Igloo promises to be ‘the coolest place in Jacksonville’
The promise of Jacksonville becoming a world-class destination for ice sports will soon be realized with the anticipated opening of the Community First Igloo in the Fall, according to Jacksonville Icemen President Bob Ohrablo. The Prescott Group, owners of the 38-acre property known as San Marco East Plaza (SMEP) sold the Jacksonville Ice & Sportsplex at I-95 and Emerson St. to an affiliate of the Jacksonville Icemen hockey team in March 2021.
In August 2021, Community First announced that it agreed to a 10-year naming rights agreement. Community First members will benefit through a complete discount and engagement package just for them. The credit union signed up as a season sponsor during the team’s inaugural year in 2017 and expanded its support and engagement with the team during the last five years.
“With the city’s investment, the Icemen’s investment and now our partnership, while this facility will serve as the HQ for the Icemen along with the team’s practice facility, we’re most excited about doubling up the commitment to ice sports for everyone in our community,” said John Hirabayashi, CEO and president of Community First. “This is the only ice facility in our city, and we’re thrilled to play a part in bringing ice sports to all generations, especially underserved youth here in Jacksonville.”
Community First Igloo will become the official practice home of the Jacksonville Icemen, with the Icemen games continuing to be played at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
The renovation project is being developed and managed by Icemen Igloo, LLC, a Zawyer Sports company, which also owns the Jacksonville Icemen. The expanded facility, with two sheets of ice, will provide a variety of benefits including youth sports, tournaments and increased opportunities for hockey and figure skating, while still providing public skate sessions and learn to skate programs.
The original rink remained opened while the newly constructed one was built. Once the new sheet of ice was ready, all events were moved there and the original side was closed for renovations of locker rooms, construction of the Icemen locker room and a complete rebuild of the ice rink itself.
“It’s going to be one of the premier skating centers in the Southeast,” said Bob Ohrablo, Jacksonville Icemen president. “It will be a family entertainment center – the coolest place in Jacksonville.”
“It’s also going to attract people from out of town who will fill hotels and restaurants. They are used to driving past Jacksonville to south Florida for hockey and skating tournaments, so now we’ll save them time and offer them a new facility,” he said.
“This facility will be a destination, and we think it will be the best ice complex across the Southeast,” said Hirabayashi. “With the expansion of this facility to two ice sheets we’re catching up with other cities in Florida. We hope this world-class facility encourages more growth and investment in the San Marco East area.”
“There’s so much great momentum in the area with new apartments being built, ALDI grocery store opening and now the Icemen Igloo opening soon,” said Bryan Croft, a current San Marco East Business Association board member and CEO of HC Brands, which is located off St. Augustine Road in San Marco East. “We’re so excited to have Andy and the team come to San Marco East. They bring new energy around hockey and youth hockey, and the restaurant will be a new gathering space that we haven’t had in the area in a long time.”
Once completed, the facility will include two NHL/ECHL regulation-size ice rinks, a sports bar, a pro shop for hockey equipment and Icemen merchandise, an E-center sports arena, meeting rooms for corporate and private use, and the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame. The sports bar will have floor-to-ceiling windows to enable guests to eat and drink while viewing the rinks.
The Jacksonville Hall of Fame will be named for the Nimnicht family. Brothers Billie and Lee Nimnicht are part owners of the Icemen.
“Our grandfather and father installed a sense of community in us. We have always been involved in a lot of sports sponsorships and in Jacksonville University,” Billie Nimnicht said. “My grandfather in 1953 and father in 1983 were both past chairman of the Gator Bowl, and my mother became the first woman to be chairman of The Players Championship in 1997. Lee will be the TPC chairman in 2023. It’s a passion and a joy, not an obligation or just an advertising opportunity, to support the Icemen Igloo and team.”
“With the completion of the Community First Igloo, we’re moving closer to realizing our vision of a place where commerce and community come together in an amazing environment,” said Frank Cofer, Prescott Group managing director.
“The Community First Igloo will bring a presence of diverse and fun amenities for the employees at San Marco East Plaza never before seen, thereby enhancing the work/life balance for everyone,” said Tammy Jones, sales associate for Meek, the property managers of SMEP.
The Team Store and Pro Shop are now open, though hours of operation vary by day and week. Please visit the Community First Igloo for more details. The venue’s bar and grill is expected to open later this year. According to Ohrablo, the second ice sheet will be in mid-October.
“The whole thing including the administrative offices should be completed by the beginning of November,” he added.
By Karen Rieley
Resident Community News
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