PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. has acquired Center Ice Arena in Delmont, PA. The Arena features three NHL ice sheets, a hockey training center, pro shop and attached gym and restaurant. The Arena is home to the Allegheny Badgers Youth Hockey Club and many recreational and figure skaters in the area. The Arena frequently hosts youth hockey tournaments and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League high school and middle school games throughout the year. Black Bear, the largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., was founded by CEO Murry Gunty in 2015.
“We are thrilled to add another ice arena in the Pittsburgh area to our portfolio,” said Murry Gunty, Founder and CEO of Black Bear. “We look forward to continuing the strong partnerships in place with the local users in Westmoreland County and bringing new and exciting hockey and skating programming to our customers.”
Black Bear owns and operates Printscape Arena in Canonsburg, PA (formerly known as Iceoplex at Southpointe) and co-owns and operates the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League in Youngstown, OH. Black Bear recently announced the formation of the Atlantic Hockey Federation (“AHF”), a new Tier-II hockey league in the Mid-Atlantic.
“Pittsburgh is a passionate hockey city,” said Ryan Scott, Vice President of Black Bear. ”We expect to build on the strong tradition of Badgers hockey at Center Ice, expanding on tournaments at the Arena, and welcoming the Badgers into AHF showcases. Moreover, we have a great team in Pittsburgh led by Scott Branovan, an industry veteran, who has done an amazing job with Printscape Arena and will do great things for our customers at Center Ice.”
About Black Bear Sports Group, Inc.
Black Bear Sports Group, Inc. is a privately held company formed by Murry Gunty and Blackstreet Capital Holdings, LLC in 2015 that seeks investments in sports and entertainment facilities, teams and youth sports events. Black Bear arenas are clean and professionally managed and offer world-class recreational programs. Black Bear focuses on ice arenas in metropolitan areas with compelling demographics, markets with a National Hockey League club presence and arenas with existing youth hockey clubs. Black Bear has the ability to acquire healthy and stable arenas, but also to turn around under-managed or under-performing facilities. The largest owner/operator of ice rinks in the U.S., Black Bear’s footprint totals 24 facilities across the United States with 45 sheets of indoor ice, three indoor turf fields, 15 youth hockey clubs and three Junior “A” hockey franchises in the United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League.
