THE ICE RINK IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Thank you for your patience and understanding over the last seven months. We recognise it has been an exceptional and difficult time for everyone.
As you are aware unfortunately the virus is rising again at an alarming rate and the Scottish Government has recently announced some further restrictions, of which there are more stringent rules for the Scottish central belt. Furthermore, the Scottish Ice Hockey Association has now informed all SNL clubs they won’t play again this calendar year and it will likely be sometime before large crowds are permitted to indoor arenas.
Murrayfield relies heavily on public skating income to be able to cover our high operating costs and we have concerns about the ability and appetite of the public to return to skating during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our normal activity programme will be impacted to such an extent by the operational restrictions that a soft launch would not be financially viable.
Since April we have been working with the various governmental bodies both local and national to make them aware of the particular challenges facing Murrayfield Ice Rink due to the pandemic and to pursue funding to enable us to reopen.
Without the same level of financial support that has been granted to the arts and culture sector we are now at a stage where essential measures are required to reduce costs to a minimum in order to protect the long term future of the business.
It is therefore with regret that we need to inform you that ice facilities at Murrayfield will not be available for the foreseeable future. The ice rink has been operating continuously since 1957 under private ownership whilst promoting a healthy and active lifestyle at no cost to any local or central government body.
We fully understand that the loss of ice facilities in Edinburgh will not only have a devastating impact on all the staff, coaches, ice users, volunteers and clubs that call Murrayfield Ice Rink home but also to the wider community in the Lothians, the South East and Central Scotland.
We would like to thank Sportscotland for their time and effort in raising our specific challenges with Scottish Government Ministers and over the coming months we will continue to seek support from the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, the National governing bodies and also explore other avenues to safeguard the capital's only permanent ice rink for future generations.
We are still hopeful that ice users will once again be able to take to the ice at Murrayfield.
Thank you and stay safe
MURRAYFIELD RACERS ARE THE NIHL NORTH CUP CHAMPIONS
RACERS V WARRIORS
7 - 6
CUP FINAL RESULT
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STEEL QUEENS
The Steel Queens clinched BUIHA Division 3 Non Checking North with a 7-1 victory over Leeds Gryphons C. The Queens will now face the winner of the South at Ice Sheffield on 25/4/2020.
Coach Rambo gave the following statement: ‘The players in this team self fund everything, from training, to games, to jerseys and a lot more. You will struggle to find a more dedicated bunch. It is such a privilege to coach them that I often don’t feel worthy of it. Please help in whatever way you can if you can.