The Sports Facilities Companies has acquired Firland Management as part of launching a new ice division, which includes a partnership with Central Park Conservancy which assumes the management of the Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink and Pool) in New York City.
SFC will also take over management of the Skating Edge Ice Arena in Harbor City, California, near Los Angeles. Additionally, Montclair State University Ice Arena in New Jersey and the SportONE Parkview Icehouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will join the SFC family as part of the Firland Management acquisition.
“With this acquisition and the creation of our Ice Division, we are expanding our capabilities to better serve communities across the country,” said Jason Clement, chief executive officer of The Sports Facilities Companies. “Firland Management has a long history of excellence in ice facility management, and we are excited to build on that legacy, enhancing our portfolio and continuing to deliver exceptional experiences for athletes and guests alike.”
Firland Management’s longtime co-owner and vice president of finance, Kelly Kryukov, has been named vice president of SFC’s Ice Division. Firland Management has consulted on over 100 projects across North America. James Cain, co-owner and president, will remain with SFC as a consultant, supporting the Ice Division and future SFC ice projects.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished at Firland Management over the past 25 years,” said Cain. “We’ve transformed facilities and built strong relationships with the communities we serve. I’m excited to continue working alongside SFC in a consulting capacity to help grow the Ice Division and support future ice projects. Firland’s venues are in good hands under SFC’s experienced leadership, and I’m confident they will continue to thrive. I’d also like to congratulate Kelly on her new role as VP of the Ice Division.”
Harlem Meer Center in Central Park will offer year-round recreational opportunities, including ice skating in the winter and a large pool with an outdoor spray pad in the summer. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2024. The Skating Edge Ice Arena offers public skating sessions and is home to the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club, the Bay Harbor Red Wings, the Ice Angeles Adult Ice Hockey League and Loyola Marymount University’s Lions ice hockey team.
The Montclair State University Ice Arena features two full-size NHL rinks and a performance training center. It hosts youth and adult hockey leagues and figure skating. The SportONE Parkview Icehouse facility includes three NHL-sized rinks and is home to Fort Wayne Spacemen Junior Hockey and Indiana Tech’s collegiate hockey teams.