AUBURN — The area around the Auburn Mall would be home to a two-rink ice arena in all three plans presented to city councilors Monday.

Recreation Director Ravi Sharma told councilors there’s demand for an arena with seats for as many as 2,000 ice hockey spectators.

“For the average high school game, we can see anywhere from 400 to 600 spectators,” Sharma said. “For one of the rivalry games, EL versus Lewiston, the number steps up. We can see 600 to 800 people. And for the St. Doms versus Lewiston game, you can see 1,500 to 1,900 people for that.”

The proposed rink would meet that, with seats for 1,200 spectators in one rink, 200 in a second rink, 300 in a shared mezzanine and standing room for hundreds more. The new arena should also feature 14 locker rooms for teams, a pro shop and second floor warm spectator area with a concessions stand.

One possible site would be on the 75 acres currently owned by the YMCA, south of Stetson Road and east of Center Street.

A second option is the 8.5 acre lot west of Shaw’s Supermarket on Turner Street’s east side, behind the Masonic Temple and north of the Auburn Mall. That lot is owned by George Schott.

A third option would be 8.5 acres farther south along the west side of Turner Street on a vacant lot east of Lowes owned by Dave Gendron.

“We have talked with landowners and they are all interested working with us a pursuing this project,” Economic Development Director Roland Miller said.

Miller said the Auburn Mall area makes sense from a spectator point of view. The rink would likely draw youth hockey teams from around Maine, and their families would likely visit area shops and restaurants.

“Those are typically the things people look for when they are coming to an area for a big tournament,” Miller said.

Monday’s discussion did not include a look at potential costs or financing.

No matter what option the city chooses, Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said voters may get the final say in the ice rink, especially if the city decides to sell bonds to pay for the project.

“From a financial perspective, if the council says they are interested, this would be a bond-finance project, our charter would trigger a public referendum,” he said.

But Councilor Robert Hayes said he’s not in favor of borrowing to pay for an ice rink, especially now.

“We have a major issue before us now, and that’s a new high school,” Hayes said. “I cannot see putting this out to bond before we address the high school situation. We need to set priorities. This project is a go, as long as it can carry itself.”

The new ice surfaces would replace Auburn’s Ingersoll Ice Arena in Pettengill Park, which is home to several hockey programs, from youth hockey to adult leagues.

That includes the boys’ high school hockey teams from Edward Little, Leavitt and Poland-Gray/New Gloucester, and the combined girls’ hockey programs from Edward Little and Leavitt Area high schools.

It would also include the newly combined Auburn Youth Hockey and the Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League. Last season, the two leagues had more than 950 players enrolled.

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View Potential Auburn Ice Rink locations in a larger map