Texas Township’s Wings West Arena at Center of Black Bear Sports Controversy After Nonprofit Hockey League Evicted

A 60-Year-Old Nonprofit Kicked Out

*Black Bear Sports Group evicted the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association from its Wings West ice arena in Texas Township* in March, according to a report from WMUK.

The private equity-backed company now plans to reopen the facility as the Biggby Ice Cube later this year, rebranding the arena under the coffee chain’s name.

Matt Kakabeeke, KOHA’s executive director, said the company demanded control over the nonprofit’s core programs.

"He outlined his plan to dismantle and reorganize KOHA under their leadership — not under their leadership, but under their Biggby banner," Kakabeeke said, referring to Black Bear Senior Director of Sales and Marketing Scott Branovan.

Kakabeeke said Black Bear wanted control of KOHA’s Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs, which have served the Kalamazoo community for 60 years.

The Dispute Over Money

An unnamed Black Bear spokesperson told WMUK that KOHA was evicted because it was not economically viable.

"We were very open to working with KOHA given their long history in youth hockey. But, the economics simply did not work because KOHA resisted any efforts to bring in new programs like Take a Shot at Hockey which gets kids on the ice for free," the statement said.

Black Bear claimed KOHA paid $400,000 per year in salaries, which the company called "ten to twenty times normal compensation for Michigan nonprofit youth clubs." The Wall Street Journal reported the figure was slightly under $400,000.

Kakabeeke called the compensation claim "misleading." He said the money covered more than 100 coaches plus administrative staff, reflecting the scale of one of Michigan’s largest youth hockey organizations.

He also disputed Black Bear’s claim that KOHA resisted new programs.

"In fact, in March KOHA hosted one of the largest USA Hockey Try Hockey For Free events in the country, introducing nearly 100 children to the sport of hockey," Kakabeeke said in an email.

A State Investigation

The eviction comes as the Michigan Attorney General’s Office investigates Black Bear Sports Group for potential antitrust violations.

According to WMUK and WOOD TV, the state’s corporate oversight division is reviewing the company for "potential anticompetitive and unfair trade practices involving the consolidation of youth ice hockey facilities and programs in Michigan."

Danny Wimmer, AG Press Secretary, said the office is concerned about "the risk of consumer harm, including higher prices and reduced service quality, that can arise from diminished access to community and recreational services."

Black Bear spokesperson Evan Nierman said the company is "not aware of any investigation by the Michigan Attorney General, or any basis for such an investigation."

A National Pattern

USA TODAY spent nine months investigating Black Bear Sports Group and found a pattern of displacing community nonprofits with for-profit operations.

The company, founded by Murry Gunty, owns or operates 47 ice rinks across 11 states and owns hundreds of youth teams, leagues, tournaments, and even the streaming service parents use to watch games.

In Pittsburgh, Black Bear bought the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in 2021 and evicted the Pittsburgh Vipers, a nonprofit that had operated for 60 years. The Vipers folded in February 2024 after Black Bear refused to rent ice to most of its teams.

Some parents told USA TODAY they spent close to $5,000 per year per child on Black Bear teams, plus additional costs for travel, equipment, and the company’s streaming service.

Katherine Van Dyck, a senior legal fellow with the American Economic Liberties Project, told USA TODAY that Black Bear’s vertical integration "allows them to build a moat around hockey that keeps any other competitors from coming in."

KOHA’s New Home

Despite the eviction, Kakabeeke said KOHA is still operating.

"We’re skating out of Wings Event Center. So we’re operating there, we just concluded our tryouts for the 26, 27 season last night. We’re gonna have a full complement of travel teams," he said.

But he warned that Black Bear’s plan to launch its own youth hockey club at the reopened Biggby Ice Cube could reshape the local landscape.

"This community is too small to support two youth hockey programs. So it is definitely gonna change the landscape of youth hockey and Kalamazoo over the next few years," Kakabeeke said.

Black Bear has not responded to requests for comment from The Kalamazoo Press.