A Familiar Rink Gets a New Name and New Owners

What used to be Wings West on the west side of Kalamazoo will reopen Saturday with a free public skate and a new name: Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Kalamazoo. The facility at 5076 Sports Drive spent months under renovation after being purchased by Black Bear Sports Group, a Florida-based company that now operates nearly 50 hockey rinks across 12 states.

What used to be Wings West ice rink will reopen Saturday with a free public skate and a new name: Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Kalamazoo.

According to WOOD TV8, the free skate event is open to all ages and marks the official return of the arena to the public after an extended closure.

$5.5 Million Investment Draws Local Pushback

The reopening comes with controversy. According to mlive.com, Black Bear Sports Group spent $5.5 million to renovate the former Wings West hockey complex. That investment has sparked community pushback over evictions of prior tenants, rising costs, and concerns about youth hockey control.

Black Bear's reopening of the former Wings West ice arena has sparked community pushback over evictions, rising costs and youth hockey control.

The rink's prior tenants and members of the Kalamazoo hockey community have expressed reservations about the changes, according to the mlive report. Editor's notes on the story indicate soft opening dates were adjusted during the renovation process.

A National Pattern Playing Out Locally

Black Bear Sports Group has expanded rapidly in Michigan. According to The Communicator, a student newspaper at the University of Michigan, the company's purchase of a rink in Ann Arbor was its first step into the state. Since then, the Florida-based private equity company has bought eight more rinks across southern Michigan.

Local hockey players believe that the changes brought by their ownership have heavily affected hockey in Ann Arbor and the whole region.

The company's business model has drawn scrutiny beyond Michigan. According to the Central Oregon Daily, a proposed "Let Kids Play Act" in Oregon would ban private equity firms from youth sports. The bill follows investigative reporting by USA TODAY into Black Bear's rapid consolidation of youth hockey in the Northeast and Midwest.

Black Bear ownership's roots are in private equity.

What Families Need to Know

The reopening Saturday offers a free public skate for the community. Here is what is known about the facility so far.

  • Name: Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Kalamazoo
  • Address: 5076 Sports Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
  • Opening event: Free public skate, Saturday, all ages
  • Owner: Black Bear Sports Group
  • Renovation cost: $5.5 million
  • Previous name: Wings West

According to the rink's website, the facility will no longer accept in-person payments at the front desk. Skaters must register and complete purchases online before arriving. QR codes will be available at the arena for those who need to register on site.

The Bigger Picture for Kalamazoo Hockey

The Kalamazoo area already has a major hockey infrastructure. The Kalamazoo Wings ECHL team plays at the Wings Event Center downtown. Western Michigan University men's and women's hockey teams compete at the Lawson Ice Arena. And a new Kalamazoo Event Center is under construction for a fall 2027 opening, according to WMU Broncos athletics.

The question for local families is whether Biggby Coffee Ice Cube Kalamazoo will fill a need for affordable ice time or add to concerns about rising costs in youth hockey. The free skate this Saturday will give the community a chance to see the renovated facility for themselves.

Sources: WOOD TV8, mlive.com, The Communicator, Central Oregon Daily, Biggby Coffee Ice Cube website, WMU Broncos athletics