Group Fights To Save Culver City Ice Rink From Closure

CULVER CITY (CBSLA.com) — Its a race against time for one local group trying to keep a Westside ice rink open.

Save Culver Ice is leading the crusade to salvage the Culver City Ice Arena, which has been a fixture of the community for more than 50 years.

Their mission: to "Gain Investors to turn Culver City Ice Rink into a world-class entertainment center and prevent the demise of the Westside's Home Ice for half a century."

The rink operators, which have been trying to negotiate a new lease, will have to close its doors on Feb. 2 before a new company takes possession of the rink and the land on Feb. 15.

Save Culver Ice's Facebook page has been flooded by community support for the facility that has been home to Olympians and the Los Angeles Kings, including "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky.

"Lots of memories at that rink, from LA Kings practices many years ago, to my son playing on that ice today," one supporter said.

"We have to save this place!!!!!!," another person posted.

An online petition has also been started through Care2 that has more than 3,900 signatures.

"We want to do everything in our collective power to make sure that it stays an ice rink. With your support we are confident that we can make this a reality," petition author Shannon Takahashi wrote.

Save Culver Ice plans to present the petition to the Culver City Council on Monday and to ask for their help in the matter.