Menard sports complex is not a bar

To the editor:

As I walked into the Curtis C. Menard Memorial Sports Center on Sunday morning, the thrill and excitement of watching my daughter play a game of hockey was quickly thwarted when I saw the condition of the bleachers. Half-eaten food items, cups that still contained beer as well other empty alcohol containers littered the entire cheering section. As I cleared a spot to sit, a feeling of embarrassment and shame came over me for the second time in recent months involving hockey at this facility.

The first time was toward the end of our 2010-11 hockey season. Our team was hosting a hockey game while there was a fundraising event taking place on the turf side. There was a band, strobe lights, scantily dressed women walking around and alcohol being served. Participants of the event did not stay in the area of the turf. They were walking all around the complex with beverages in hand, including coming into the hockey rink. The music was so loud we could hear it in the ice arena. The strobe lights were distracting to all players as the light was flashing directly behind the goalie net. The visiting team was less than impressed with everything that was going on that night and they were not afraid to make less than pleasant comments.

Today (Sunday) was an unwelcome reminder of that night.

After our game today we asked our players to take a few minutes to clean up the bleachers. The coaches and parents felt it was important to teach our youth to take pride in the facilities they use, even when others don’t. Everyone pitched in and we got it done in no time. The employees were very thankful for our community service efforts and apologetic for the situation. But I must admit it was ridiculous for us to be participating in such an unsanitary task and our children were disgusted.

The Menard center is under-staffed. If the city of Wasilla wants to continue to host big events that require the ice to be covered and uncovered in a timely manner, then it needs to seriously consider adding additional employees to help with the process so there is also time for clean-up. There is only so much a person can get done during a shift. Just to put into perspective the amount of time it takes to cover/uncover the ice, I want to point out that the Sullivan Arena employs 25 people to complete the task versus the city of Wasilla’s two. I personally think the ice area should be used solely for ice skating-type events during the hockey season.

I would think that with an election right around the corner, Mayor Rupright would be managing city properties more efficiently. The Menard sports center was built for sports activities. It’s not a bar. For those of us promoting healthy lifestyles for our youth through sports these events are very counterproductive.

Kellie Merrill

Wasilla