KALAMAZOO, MI — It took the sudden closure of Wings West last month to bring together hockey, skating and curling organizations across Kalamazoo to address a community-wide ice shortage that is destined to become more dire in coming years.

While it was announced earlier this week that Black Bear Sports Group has purchased Wings West and plans to reopen the Texas Township ice facility next year, a larger county-wide ice shortage looms.

“We have a community-wide ice crisis,” said Arlene Carter, president of the Kalamazoo Curling Club, during a press conference Friday, Oct. 10 at the Discover Kalamazoo offices downtown.

At the heart of the crisis, Wings Event Center, home to half the community’s available ice, is scheduled to be decommissioned following the 2027-28 season.

The pending c

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