Olympic-size skating rink in Jurong by 2009

Current ice rink to undergo $7m to $8m overhaul
Joyce Teo, Straits Times 6 Feb 08;

SINGAPORE is to get its first Olympic-size ice skating rink as part of a $138.2 million overhaul of Jurong Entertainment Centre.

The announcement by CapitaMall Trust (CMT) that it will build the new rink came two days after the Singapore Ice Skating Association complained about the difficulty of finding sponsors for a rink big enough for competition purposes.

Without a 30m by 60m Olympic-size rink, Singapore cannot be a member of the International Skating Union (ISU) and compete in ISU-sanctioned events such as the Olympics.

Ice skating association president Sonja Chong had said that she had tried for the past four years to get an Olympic-size rink built here. The body had held talks with various parties - and there is finally good news.

'We have been working with CMT and the Singapore Sports Council for the past two years,' she told The Straits Times yesterday.

CMT, a trust which owns various retail properties including the Jurong Entertainment Centre, said in a statement yesterday that it will replace the current 20m by 40m rink, operated by Fuji Ice Palace on level three of the centre, with the Olympic-size rink.

CMT said the Government granted it permission for more space at the entertainment centre last year. This allowed for a 62 per cent rise in the gross floor area of the entertainment centre to about 275,500 sq ft. The net lettable area would climb by over 89 per cent to about 209,700 sq ft.

Among CMT's plans are a rooftop landscaped garden and a newly created floor on level five for a six-screen cineplex, which is being moved from level one.

CMT is also hoping for approval to have the rink classified under a special government scheme, allowing it to donate the rink for public use in exchange for about 35,000 sq ft of extra gross floor area.

It would then be able to build more shops - which can generate higher rents.

Yesterday, Mr Pua Seck Guan, chief executive officer of CapitaMall Trust Management, said it is going ahead with the Olympic-size rink, with or without the scheme.

'Our first preference is to pass it on to the Singapore Sports Council.' But if it doesn't work out, CMT will find an operator for the rink.

He said when CMT bought the centre three years ago, it had intended to remove the rink as it generated low rent.

'But our customer survey feedback tells us that it was a major draw,' said Mr Pua.

'By bringing better facilities, we will be able to draw more sales and traffic for the centre,' he added.

About $7 million to $8 million of the $138 million capital expenditure will be spent on the rink.

Work will start at the end of this year and the new rink, together with the rest of the upgrading works, is expected to be completed at the end of next year.

'We are very, very pleased. It will allow us to apply for an ISU membership,' said Ms Chong. 'It will mean that the Singapore flag can fly at ISU events such as the Asian Winter Games.'