Bee Cave takes step to bring back ice rink

The Bee Cave City Council on Feb. 28 approved a deposit of nearly $49,000 to secure a service agreement with Ice Crown Rinks to help bring "Bee Cave on Ice" back this year. The council also discussed spending up to $300,000 to have the facility return for a second year.

The event featured an open-air ice skating rink at the Hill Country Galleria. The rink was wildly successful, a city spokesperson said, drawing over 25,000 skaters and grossing $393,000 over the two months it was open over the holidays.

“In general, they (businesses in the Hill Country Galleria) loved the event, saw increased business and inquired if this could be a city tradition,” said Dori Kelley, a communications specialist for the city. “That’s what I’m here to ask y’all.”

According to Kelley, the Hill Country Galleria proposed to offer the same support for the coming season as it did last year, which was providing the venue, coordinating marketing and branding support, and funding $100,000, with the mall receiving back the amount from the rink’s revenue.

Kelley said that “Bee Cave on Ice” will have sponsors this year, and does not plan on using the full $300,000 requested.

“We’re hoping that the $300,000 is the upper end of what we would spend, but the sponsorships would actually be bringing that number down, so we’re not spending that full amount,” said Kelley.

After some questioning from the City Council, the deposit of $49,000 was unanimously approved. The discussion on the $300,000 will be discussed at the next meeting.

“We can’t do the $300,000 tonight," said Mayor Kara King. "Let’s stick with this (the $49,000) and we’ll come back to do the remaining.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bee Cave takes step to bring back ice rink