Great stuff BSF.
We've gone through the north east saga on other threads - I was an occasional spectator during the Vipers' death rattle stint at Whitley Bay - but in short I can't see the north east being represented at EIHL level again for a very long time, if at all. As you suggest the Arena in Newcastle isn't going to give over 30 or so weekend slots to ice hockey, it is too well used for other, more lucrative events. As much as I loved going to Whitley Bay it is ancient, isolated and (as you suggest about other places) it isn't the standard people have come to expect for family entertainment. That leaves the only route being a new purpose built facility but that has been raised and dashed previously (at Gateshead for example).
We've gone through the north east saga on other threads - I was an occasional spectator during the Vipers' death rattle stint at Whitley Bay - but in short I can't see the north east being represented at EIHL level again for a very long time, if at all. As you suggest the Arena in Newcastle isn't going to give over 30 or so weekend slots to ice hockey, it is too well used for other, more lucrative events. As much as I loved going to Whitley Bay it is ancient, isolated and (as you suggest about other places) it isn't the standard people have come to expect for family entertainment. That leaves the only route being a new purpose built facility but that has been raised and dashed previously (at Gateshead for example).
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