Middle Tennessee hockey: Why work has stopped on Gallatin's ice center at The Goat Farm
Development is being paused indefinitely on a 100,000-square-foot Sumner County ice center due to rising costs and a lack of upfront public funds, the project's backer, Old Hickory Hockey, LLC, announced in a press release Tuesday.
Planned in conjunction with Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment, which is owned and operated by Predators Holdings, a subsidiary of the Nashville Predators, the facility would have been the fourth such location to open in Middle Tennessee.
Similar ice centers have opened in Antioch, Bellevue and Clarksville since 2014. All of the facilities are operated by the Nashville Predators as Ford Ice Centers.
The Sumner County center, first announced in 2018, was originally expected to open this summer in Gallatin.
“Though my family and I are disappointed and hope the center can eventually be built, we have decided to hit ‘pause’ for now until funding sources catch up with cost projections that have increased by tens of millions of dollars. These increased costs include materials, labor, supply chain delays and other factors,” Old Hickory Hockey owner Alex Smith said in the Tuesday release.
“We would like to thank the Nashville Predators organization, the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association for their support throughout this process.”
Hockey tournaments, on-ice events and competitions similar to those held in Middle Tennessee's existing Ford Ice Centers were in the works for the Sumner County facility. The project is part of The Goat Farm, a 54-acre county landmark accessible from Nashville Pike and Shute Lane, the release said.
Two sheets of ice, public and private locker rooms, a weight room and hockey pro shop were planned as part of the facility.
The project's other anticipated amenities included retail and restaurant space, residential units, entertainment opportunities and a hotel.
“We appreciate all the work that has gone into the project,” said Sean Henry, chief executive officer for the Nashville Predators and the Ford Ice Centers.
“The Smith family has a great vision for the facility, and we thank them for their generosity and desire to grow the game of hockey in Middle Tennessee while also focusing on the tremendous economic impact the center would have on Sumner County. That said, we understand the present concerns and look forward to further engaging with all the interested parties when the time is right for everyone.”
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why has work been 'paused' on Predators backed Gallatin ice center?
