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Cardiff Bay Ice Arena | |
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| Location | Cardiff International Sports Village,Cardiff Bay |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°27′01″N3°10′46″W / 51.4504°N 3.1794°W /51.4504; -3.1794 |
| Capacity | 2,500 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 6 December 2006 |
| Closed | 27 February 2016 |
| Demolished | 2016 |
| Tenants | |
| Cardiff Devils | |
Cardiff Arena, also known asCardiff Bay Ice Arena and byice hockey fans as theBig Blue Tent,[1] was a temporaryice rink atCardiff International Sports Village inCardiff Bay,Cardiff,Wales. It had a capacity of 2,500 for ice hockey and was home to theCardiff Devils[2] after leaving theWales National Ice Rink which was being demolished to make way for aJohn Lewis department store.[3]
It was also used forfigure skating and hosted three competitions (in February 2009, 2011 and 2012). It was replaced as the home of the Cardiff Devils when they moved into theIce Arena Wales.[4]
The ice rink was aprefabricated structure constructed inFinland. Assembly began in 2006 and after a number of delays opened on 6 December 2006 when the Devils hosted theManchester Phoenix (who, coincidentally, were also waiting for a similar venue to be completed) in anElite Ice Hockey League fixture. The Devils won the game 7-4 while Manchester'sTony Hand became the first player to score a goal at the rink.
The last game in the Cardiff Arena was played againstCoventry Blaze on 27 February 2016.[5] The first game inIce Arena Wales was against theBelfast Giants on 12 March 2016.
In Summer 2016, the rink was dismantled. The wooden frame was moved to Leeds where it will be upgraded to form part of the new ice rink located on Elland Road, yards away fromLeeds United Football Club. The upgrade will consist of new walls and an extension at the non-seated end of the rink which will include a bar and cafe over two floors. The stairs to the seating area have also been moved to the back in order to improve sightlines.
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