SA/ice rink in Jonsdorf open again

The ice arena in the East Saxon spa town of Jonsdorf has reopened for club and recreational sports. Now that the municipality has found a new operator for the arena, public ice skating will be offered for the first time this season on December 6, said Mayor Kati Wenzel (non-party). The arena has already been available to ice hockey teams, curlers and figure skaters for training since this weekend.

The ice rink in Jonsdorf was closed in summer 2024 because the municipality, which has a population of around 1,400, was no longer able to finance the facility on its own. Mayor Wenzel said that the building, which was in need of renovation, had therefore been put out to tender for continued operation on the condition that it would continue to be used for club and popular sports in the future. In mid-November, she signed the lease agreement with Czech ice hockey player Tomáš Plíhal. As managing director of the newly founded operating company for the ice arena, he is supported by several investors.

Lease agreement with Czech ice hockey player

"My wish to find someone who loves ice has come true," said a delighted Wenzel. She has not given up hope of continuing the 71-year-old tradition of ice sports in Jonsdorf. From 1954, there was an open-air natural ice stadium on the site of today's spa park. In 1996, the newly built ice arena opened, where training, competitions and recreational sports were now possible regardless of the weather.

Last winter, an emergency operation was organized in the hall with the support of the local population. According to the municipality, around 25,000 visitors came to ice skate from the end of November to mid-March. For this season, however, the mayor had ruled out a new edition on her own - due to incalculable costs. The lease agreement with the Czech investors is initially limited until June 30, 2026 and is intended as an interim solution until the planned leasehold agreement is signed.