Comeback Town: The case for an iceplex at Brookwood Village

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Three years.

That's how long it's been since the tumbleweed started rolling through Brookwood Village.

It seems longer, doesn't it? Brookwood's demise was slow and predictable.

We all saw it happen at Century Plaza, Eastwood, and other similar malls across the country, so we knew what was coming.

In its heyday, Brookwood was a destination that bustled with shoppers. But now, despite the mall's closure, the real estate there remains fertile ground for retailers. Ask Target, Fresh Market, and other adjacent stores.

Still, I think we've all accepted that retail's not coming back to the mall itself. So, what now? That's been the question on the table since I don't know when.

Personally, for years I've been pitching an ice rink in one of the department store spaces to anyone who would listen. A rink, in my view, would not only improve quality of life in central Alabama, it would bring in added tourism dollars to our state.

Finally, though, it looks like there's movement with Brookwood.

Andrews Sports Medicine has big plans to transform the former Belk space into a $124 million surgery center.

In fact, the plan has been a mainstay on public meeting agendas in Homewood lately.

This makes the idea of a rink in the Macy's space even better, and offers our city a golden opportunity to create something that may not exist anywhere else in the country: a sports venue in the same building as one of the nation's premier sports medicine centers.

Imagine the possibilities.

Right now, Pelham has the only ice in central Alabama. The building features two rinks, and demand is high.

Pelham is home to the Birmingham Bulls, multiple men's and women's Alabama Frozen Tide teams, UAB hockey, youth travel hockey, youth house (rec) hockey, multiple adult hockey leagues, public skate, and figure skating.

And that doesn't count all the extras like Try Hockey for Free as well as lessons for both hockey and figure skating.

The simple fact is, winter sports are growing in Alabama. Don't be surprised if they build a rink on campus in Tuscaloosa in the not-too-distant future.

But moving Frozen Tide games over to the Druid City still won't do enough to alleviate the need for more ice in the Birmingham area.

Why? Let's talk about the dollars and cents.

You may not be a hockey parent like me, but if your kids have participated in travel sports, you know what happens when you hit the road for competition. Hotels. Restaurants. Shopping.

Hockey teams travel all over the continent for tournaments, and we do this year-round.

More ice at Brookwood Village doesn't replace Pelham. It enhances that facility. The two venues can work together to host larger events on a frequent basis that will bring in out-of-towners.

Between games, parents can hit stores in the mall. They'll venture elsewhere in the city before and after.

Locally, we can grow interest in and access to winter sports such as hockey, figure skating, and even curling. That's right, curling. Adult leagues are all the rage in Huntsville.

The Brookwood rink should feature two sheets of ice with locker rooms and some bleacher seating on the ground level. On the second floor, there should be a restaurant/bar with a viewing area from above.

Not interested in winter sports? Well, a rink should serve the community too, with rental skates available for those who want to hit the ice just for fun.

Other cities turning defunct malls into ice rinks

But don't take my word for any of this. Ask City,other cities who have turned defunct malls into ice rinks. Better yet, ask John Zimmerman, the local figure skating legend and Homewood High School graduate.

Then ask yourself: how would you enjoy shopping during the holidays in a revived Brookwood Village, taking your kids to see Santa Claus, and going for a skate. What could be more appropriate for the season than that?

Remember, this isn't a Homewood and Mt. Brook project alone. The entire metro area would benefit. I implore the leaders in our area to at least have a conversation about a rink at Brookwood.

It could be really cool.

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham.