Courtesy Photo / Fremont Flyers
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The Fremont Flyers Youth Hockey Association launched a $2 million capital campaign, Fund the Rink, this week to make the necessary repairs to their home rink, the Sidner Ice Arena.
The campaign is focused on raising funds to secure the arena’s future and build on the impact it has had during the past 20 years.
As the rink enters the 20th year of operations, the Fremont Family YMCA made the decision to approve a third party operator to take over management of the rink as they determined that the repairs to the rink are not possible with the other operational obligations of the Y. In the next few months the Fremont Family YMCA and SETT, LLC, the third party operator, will be finalizing the operating agreement.
“The Fremont Hockey program has grown over the years and we understand how important the rink is to the Flyers families and the community of Fremont. This was a necessary step to ensure that the rink and the hockey programs that rely on the rink can remain operational for years to come,” said Kent Johnson, SETT, LLC owner.
Sidner Ice Arena opened its doors in 2004. It has been owned and operated by the Fremont Family YMCA since 2004. The Fremont Flyer Hockey Program, Midland Hockey and community skating/programs all call Sidner Ice Arena home and rely on the ice for the success of their programs.
The Y will continue to operate Sidner Ice Arena through April 2024 and collaborate with SETT, LLC through installation of the new systems over the summer of 2024 with the estimated transition to SETT, LLC being in the last summer of 2024.
Todd Seawall, the Y’s chief volunteer officer, said officials are pleased that a solution has been found.
“The Fremont Family YMCA board of directors is grateful that an outside operator has come forward to ensure the safe and educational experience of ice skating, hockey, and ice athletes remain strong in the Fremont community,” he said.
Johnson is part of the Fremont Hockey Program as a parent of two players and head coach of the Squirt travel team and assistant coach of the Peewee travel team.
Officials note that SETT, LLC has been meeting with the YMCA during the last 12 months to come up with a solution to keep the ice in Fremont.
For more information about the Fund the Rink Campaign, visit www.fundtherink.org.
Officials stressed that donations toward “Fund the Rink” are not being sought from the YMCA. The contributions are being sought and secured through the Fremont Ice Association, a separate 501 (C) 3 organization.
