Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Fife Ice Arena

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Former names
  
Kirkcaldy Ice Rink

Architect
  
Williamson & Hubbard

Opened
  
1938

Team
  
Fife Flyers

Built
  
1937

Capacity
  
3,280

Phone
  
+44 1592 595100

Fife Ice Arena

Location
  
Rosslyn Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, KY1 3HS

Owner
  
Kirkcaldy Ice Rink Limited

Address
  
Rosslyn St, Kirkcaldy KY1 3HS, UK

Similar
  
Murrayfield Ice Rink, Dundee Ice Arena, Braehead Arena, Cardiff Arena, SkyDome Arena

Ice hockey sam the bear and pirate pete at fife ice arena


Fife Ice Arena (originally known as Kirkcaldy Ice Rink) opened in 1938. Kirkcaldy Ice Rink was designed by architects Williamson & Hubbard. Fife Ice Arena is the home venue of the oldest Ice Hockey team in the UK - the Fife Flyers. It is also a venue for public skating, figure skating, speed skating, curling and ice shows. The arena has also hosted concerts, boxing, wrestling, motorcycle ice speedway and other events such as dog shows.

Contents

The Fife Free Press dated February 2, 1938, announced 30,000 ordinary shares at 1d each in a proposed new rink in the town—25,000 shares were offered for subscription. On February 17, plans to build the rink in the Gallatown were presented to, and approved by, Kirkcaldy Dean of Guilds Court. The one-storey building contained seating for 4,500 and would cost £37,000 to construct. To put that figure into context the town's fire station, also opened that year, cost £15,000.

The building was to have a carcass of steel stanchions and a roof span of 145 feet without any supporting pillars except those at the extremities, making it the widest construction of its kind in Scotland at the time.

The rink's ground level would consist of an entrance hall, general office, booking office, confectioners and tobacconist, cloakroom with provision for a large restaurant, and a milk bar. Facilities also included dressing rooms with spray baths, while immediately above the entrance was the boardroom, bandstand and manager's office. The plans also had a touch of class—the restaurant featured Parker-Knoll chairs, curtains designed by Dame Laura Knight, as well as monogrammed cutlery.

Much of the work was carried out by local tradesmen, including plumber James Blyth, while the original sound system came from E. Donaldson of Kirk Wynd. The builder was James Ramsay of Leslie, while joiner D. Mitchell & Sons, also of Leslie, worked on the roof.

Bubble soccer at fife ice arena


Location and transportation

Fife Ice Arena (FIA) is located on Rosslyn Street in the North East area of Kirkcaldy known as Gallatown. FIA is approximately 1 mile from the A92, 2 miles from the railway station and town centre.

  • Drive: exit the A92 at the Redhouse roundabout (Kirkcaldy East & Central) and drive South on the A921 approximately 0.5 miles to the next roundabout. Follow the A921 (Town Centre) for a further 0.4 miles. Fife Ice Arena is on the right.
  • Bus: FIA is served by the #37 and #39 - Kirkcaldy<>Glenrothes - bus services provided by Stagecoach
  • Train: Kirkcaldy is served by train services provided by First ScotRail and operates as the Edinburgh & Fife Circle. Kirkcaldy is also served by the East Coast Main Line operated by East Coast providing direct connections from towns and cities including Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and London.
  • History/News/Events

    Other than league ice hockey, skating and curling, other notable events have occurred at Fife Ice Arena over the years. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

    Notable NHL/International players

    A number of players with NHL experience have played for Fife Flyers and other British ice hockey teams. Some of the most noted players that have skated at Fife Ice Arena are:

    Improvements & Upgrades

    Over the years Fife Ice Arena has undergone many changes, upgrades and improvements to the venue including:

    References

    Fife Ice Arena Wikipedia