[sureLoss]

https://www.mantecabulletin.com/news...ca-great-wolf/

The Stockton Heat minor league hockey team is exploring the possibility of building a practice facility in Manteca that could ultimately seat up to 5,000 spectators as a possible new home venue for the Calgary Flames affiliate.

Manteca Economic Development Specialist Don Smail has been talking with Heat representatives and the City of Stockton. The Heat since they are unable to practice on ice at the arena, use Stockton’s Oak Park Ice Arena. The team that is part of the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division doesn’t have locker room facilities at Oak Park.

Smail said the Heat were looking at other alternatives including a possible move to Fresno when Manteca approached the team.

“This is a joint effort to help keep them in (San Joaquin) County,” Smail noted.

Lutzow noted if the council agrees to have the staff continue exploring the ice hockey arena project initial vetting will take place regarding its economic viability and feasibility.



Initial plan would be toserve as training facility & public ice arena

Based on preliminary discussions the arena would initially serve as headquarters for the Heat as well as being the team’s practice facility with home games still played in Stockton.

Lutzow said once the McKinley Avenue interchange on the 120 Bypass is in place, the proposed Manteca arena could then become the home ice for the Heat. In terms of freeway access, a Manteca arena would be within a half mile of two freeway interchanges along the 120 Bypass. The Stockton Arena has no nearby direct freeway access and requires a circuitous route through downtown and residential punctuated with numerous traffic signals.