Fuel Owners Plan $20M Iceplex in Greenwood
Sean Hallett is the co-owner and president/CEO of the Indy Fuel.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe owners of the Indy Fuel hockey team have announced plans to build a $20 million facility in Greenwood aimed at boosting youth hockey and other ice sports. Sean Hallett, who also serves as chief executive officer of the team, says the 115,000 square-foot Greenwood Iceplex, which will be located on six acres in Freedom Park, will fill a demand for hockey south of Indianapolis and could attract hockey tournaments from throughout the country.
The facility will be adjacent to the Freedom Springs Aquatic Center in Greenwood. It will include two finished ice rinks, two turf fields that can be converted into two additional ice rinks, a fitness and training facility, locker rooms, food service facilities as well as retail space. The city of Greenwood says it will be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the nation.
Hallett says he was looking to grow the Indy Fuel business and building the Greenwood facility is a logical step. "If we can provide these services to the community and at the same time, we can build youth hockey from the ground up and build the fan base for the Fuel, it all kind of make sense in trying to create a larger business."
Hallett says the immediate need is for a two-rink, or two-sheet, facility but they’re adding the capacity for four sheets to accommodate future growth.
"We just think the sport’s growing so fast, that instead of building two sheets and then building another two sheets down the road in one of the neighboring cities, it’s a lot more economically feasible to put four sheets all under one roof," said Hallett. "Not only is it going to be one of the nicest facilities in the Midwest, it’s going to be one of the premiere ice rinks in the country."
He adds the facility will allow them to attract hockey tournaments from USA Hockey, as well as other regional and national tournaments.
Hallett, along with his father and Indy Fuel Chairman Jim Hallett, have entered into an agreement in principle whereby the city will lease the land to the Halletts for $1 per month for at least 60 years. Sean Hallett says he expects a final agreement to be in place within the next 45 days. He says, if all goes to plan, they expect to have about five months of planning and permitting followed by a year to 18 months of construction.
Hallett says building the facility is a “logical step.”