Ice in Southampton
BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON ICE RINK
1927 - 1988
1927 Building starts – ice rink to be part of the Southampton Stadium
1931 Rink opened its doors general sessions, public entertainment of barrel jumping, ice dancing, figure skating, speed skating and ice hockey.
1942 Rink took a direct hit from a parachute mine and was totally destroyed.
1952 New rink built and opened 27 March. Southampton Ice Dance & Figure Skating Club formed and Southampton Vikings Ice Hockey Club back in business.
1952-1960 Rink popularity goes from strength to strength. Vikings win the British Ice Hockey Association Cup five times and SID&FSC are starting to produce several very talented skaters and also Ice Shows and Galas with World, European and British Ice Dance Champions participating. The Ice Rink became recognised by the National Ice Skating Association as their chosen venue for Amateur Figure Skating Championships and thus attracted leading skaters from all different parts of the country.
1963 Unrest as Stadium site becomes very valuable but despite a large area being sold off for development the ice rink survives under new management (Rank Organisation) who agreed to carry out a refurbishment and run the ice rink and bowling alley.
1964-1973 Rink continues to thrive – SID&FSC membership growing with skaters now competing in British Championships and International Competitions. Vikings Hockey Club in limbo due to rink not having protection boards for spectators and players.
1976 Rink closed for refurbishment – new ice surface installed and permanent boards around ice pad erected,
1976-78 Southampton Ice Rink hosted Primary Championship of GB and presented a Silver Jubilee Gala attended by Lord Louise Mountbatten of Burma. SID&FSC members skating in Primaries and World Juniors. Southampton Vikings saw a resurgence of ice hockey in the City with spectators packing the rink to its limits.
1978 Yet another attempt to close rink for development of flats on the site. Hundreds of skaters campaigned against closure and once again it was averted. Southampton Ice Rink was by far still the most popular leisure activity within the City.
1982-1988 Rank Organisation sell out to Mecca and ice skating continues to gain in popularity. (300,000 through the doors). Southampton Vikings are top of British League Division 1 and gain promotion to the Premier Division. SID&FSC Christmas Shows are now one of the most popular attractions for the local community and also the surrounding area.
Aug. 1988 Bombshell dropped. Without warning ice rink sign displayed “Closed for Redecoration”. This turned into permanent closure - within 48 hours the ice pad had been removed. 35,000 people signed a petition objecting to the closure but the doors never opened again. Within a few weeks Southampton Ice Rink was demolished and the site developed into a luxury housing estate.