KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Kalamazoo Wings Event Center will be permanently closing in Spring of 2028.
News Channel 3 confirmed the closure through a letter sent to hockey families Wednesday by the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association (KOHA).
In the letter, KOHA officials detailed they met with the Greenleaf Hospitality Group, owners of the Wings Event Center, who confirmed the the closure.
The announcement comes a day after Wings West, a longtime ice hockey arena near South 9th Street, announced Tuesday they would be shutting their doors Sept. 12 due to a “severe failure at the ice plant.”
“It seems like they didn’t put that time and effort into maintaining the ice, and now it’s gone,” Mallory Marcil, West Wings hockey team manager, said.
Corky Osborn, a former NHL athletic trainer, told News Channel 3 the closures have led to uncertainty surrounding area youth hockey and figure skating.
“I am afraid that we’re just going to lose our Kalamazoo youth hockey program,” Osborn said.
While Wings West programming has moved to the Wings Event Center, Osborn worries what will happen when the event center closes.
“It’s just not enough ice surfaces after the event center and Wings West close down,” Osborn said.
Osborn believes Kalamazoo is eliminating important facilities where youth practice and play. For Osborn, unless Kalamazoo does something with another arena or brings one, he doesn’t see how they can keep up with youth hockey.
“I’m afraid it’s going to move to Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, some of the outlining areas, it’s sad,” Osborn said. “Everybody knows about Kalamazoo because of the hockey programs.”
Meanwhile, Kalamazoo is forging ahead. The city is currently building a $515 million downtown arena, which is set to become home to Western Michigan hockey teams and the Kalamazoo Wings.
The Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association (GKSA) is holding a emergency meeting Wednesday at the Wings Event Center at 7:30 p.m.