Ice rink for Fayetteville? Wake sports complex a model

The Wake Competition Center, a multi-sports complex, is a quick drive up to Morrisville, and it is something to see. It really doesn't matter when you go as the parking lot is always packed, between the soccer fields, ice rink, volleyball courts and sports lab. And when I say packed I mean it's hard to find parking at times, especially on a Saturday morning when multiple tournaments in multiple sports are being played. 

More:How the city of Fayetteville plans to move forward with its $20 million sports complex

By any measure, the center is a massive success and its success has brought in adjacent businesses such as RushHour Karting and Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. 

Ice rink for Fayetteville

Fayetteville desperately needs an ice rink to support the growing hockey and figure skating community. Holly Springs is building a 4-sheet rink, and additional expansion is happening at rinks in Charlotte, Greenville and in Raleigh.

We have a huge population of talented athletes that we can't put on the ice locally and the community is missing out on hosting tournaments which will have a massive financial impact on our community. 

For people with younger kids, think about their first steps. How would you like to see that happen again, except this time onto the ice? Their eyes will glow, first with trepidation, then pure joy as they get better. You'll get to see an entire transformation in less than three one-hour lessons as they go from shaky knees to looping turns to racing around the rink.

I've watched it happen to lots of kids for years and it never gets old ...

John Brown lives in Fayetteville.