FALMOUTH YOUTH HOCKEY ANNOUNCES FUTURE SITE AND CONSTRUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ICE ARENA FACILITY

5.5 Million Dollar Construction Project to Give Falmouth Residents a Modern Year-Round Ice Arena

Falmouth, MA – February 1, 2010 - Falmouth Youth Hockey League, Inc. has reached an agreement with the Steamship Authority (SSA) that will enable it to acquire property to construct a state-of-the-art ice arena facility to serve the Falmouth community. The proposed 60,000 square foot facility, with expected seating for more than 700, will be built on lot 10, Technology Park Dr. (located off of Thomas B. Landers Road near Route 28), and represents a five and a half million dollar investment in the community.

"We have outgrown our current facility and with such limited places to build an ice rink in Falmouth, we are extremely pleased to have found a location that will benefit children, their parents and the community as a whole," said Paul Moore, President, Falmouth Youth Hockey League, Inc. "The future home of Falmouth Youth Hockey is more centrally located and will have easy access to the highway. Most importantly, it will give our kids and adults a state-of-the-art facility that they deserve."

Last year the SSA entered into a purchase and sale agreement to buy the property off Thomas B. Landers Road along with another much larger parcel (lot 9) across Technology Park Drive. The SSA’s plans are to construct a parking facility on lot 9 so that it can close down its other parking lots on Gifford Street in Falmouth and on Route 28A in Cataumet.

The proposed facility will have a full size rink, five feet wider than the current ice rink, and will host a separate half rink to be used for practices, events and community skating. Upgrades will also include dedicated dressing rooms for both boys and girls hockey teams along with separate officiating rooms. The Board of Governors for Falmouth Youth Hockey has also mandated that the new facility meet the latest efficiency and environmental standards.

"Falmouth’s new ice arena will not only be an attractive, comfortable venue for all types of skating, it will exemplify a high level of energy and environmental stewardship," said Paul Stewart of Arena Design Engineers, the design firm retained for the new ice arena project. "No stone has been left unturned and after extensive research and design we believe that the new Falmouth Ice Arena will use half of the energy of a standard facility of its type," said Mr. Stewart.

To make those goals a reality the new ice arena will employ a state-of-the-art waste heat recovery system for space heating, snowmelt and hot water used for ice resurfacing. The structure will utilize a highly efficient lighting and plumbing architecture and will use no Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the cooling process among many other energy saving initiatives.

The goal of Falmouth Youth Hockey and the SSA is to be able to exchange the properties in March 2011, after all of the permits are acquired for the new ice arena facility. At that time the SSA will also pay the Falmouth Youth Hockey League an additional $1.6 million, which will contribute to the construction and operation of a new ice arena facility in Falmouth.

"The new site will be subject to an extensive review process with input from residents of Falmouth," said SSA General Manager Wayne Lamson. "Expanding parking capacity while mitigating traffic congestion in the area remains our top priority."

In addition, the SSA will allow Falmouth Youth Hockey to continue to use its current rink rent free until March 2012, when the new ice arena facility is expected to be completed, so there will be no disruption to ice arena programs.

Established in 1967, Falmouth Youth Hockey League, Inc. is a certified 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides early exposure to skating and hockey for children of all economic backgrounds. In the coming weeks and months Falmouth Youth Hockey will be launching a fundraising campaign to raise capital for the construction of the facility currently, estimated at $5.5 million.