World Hockey Association Considers Low Cost Monolithic Dome Arena

December 18, 2003

by Kris Garrison

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David B. South, president and owner of Monolithic, met with World Hockey Association (WHA) team owners in Toronto, Canada on December, 11, 2003 to present the possibility of a Monolithic Dome for an ice arena.

South's presentation included photos, renderings and video of actual and proposed Monolithic Domes. He discussed the advantages of building a Monolithic Crenosphere Arena. The fact that Monolithic Dome arenas are multifunctional, more affordable to buy and operate interested WHA officials. They are considering a 300-400 foot diameter Crenosphere to seat 22,000 to 25,000 spectators.

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Because energy bills can be reduced by 50 percent or more with dome construction technology, ice sports may benefit most from Monolithic Dome technology. Not only does a Crenosphere save construction money, since less heating and cooling equipment is needed, it saves millions in operating costs over the life of the structure.

The interior design of a Crenosphere arena is extremely flexible. It can include locker rooms, conference rooms, sky boxes (that may be suspended from the dome right over the playing area), retail shops, restaurants, concessions, and more.

The current WHA league which operates out of Niagara Falls, Ontario is being resurrected. It was originally organized in 1972, but lasted only 7 years. However, many events and rule changes strongly influenced the game of hockey as we know it today. Now, nearly 24 years later, NHL ticket prices have skyrocketed. So, WHA officials are striving to develop their league in order to bring the family back into the game by making it more affordable and enjoyable. The sports world predicts that September 2004 will be the start of a NHL lockout. The lockout will send players seeking a place to play. They are aiming to have a league up and running by December 2004.

Fourteen cities were represented at the meeting at the Renaissance SkyDome hotel:

Toronto
Vancouver
Quebec City
Hamilton
Portland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Miami/Orlando
St. Louis
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Cincinnati

According to South, because of all the controversy in Canada about the new league, guards were present at the doors to keep the press out, however, a press conference was held following the meeting to inform people of current and future plans. Continued discussion and negotiations are needed before something can proceed. South hopes to be part of future negotiations and continues to teach the long-term benefits of utilizing Monolithic Dome technology.

World Hockey Association Considers Low Cost Monolithic Dome Arena

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