BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The home of Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth Hockey, a program now more than 500 players strong, is planning an expansion of its facilities in South Bethlehem.
Steel Ice Center on East First Street eyes a 34,000-square-foot addition to make room for its third ice rink on site, and another 6,000 square feet for a fitness facility with gym space, a stretch-and-recovery lab and a locker area.
Keith Krem, owner of Steel Ice Center and Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth vice president of hockey operations, said he originally bought the property with the intention to expand resources and access for local high school and college teams.
“We have youth teams that are practicing as early as 5:30 in the morning, and then we have adult programming running until about 1 a.m.,” at the Steel Ice Center.Keith Krem, owner of Steel Ice Center and Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth vice president of hockey operations
With the city municipal rink on Illick’s Mill Road operating on a seasonal basis, arranging for practice space can get tricky for local teams, Krem said.
“We have youth teams that are practicing as early as 5:30 in the morning, and then we have adult programming running until about 1 a.m.,” at the Steel Ice Center, Krem said.
“So we are saturated in every way, shape or form.”
The new facility will feature St. Luke’s University Health Network branding, Krem said, as the health system currently operates a gym at the front of the building that will also see updates.
'Thrilled'
Planner Matthew Malozi said, “Business must be good, investing and expanding the facility right where it belongs.”
Steel Ice Center and its owners are “thrilled” to be operating “in the middle of a really good, cultural hotbed,” Krem said.
“Obviously we’re happy and pleased that it’s taking place here in our city,” Planning Commission chairman Robert Melosky said.
“Business must be good, investing and expanding the facility right where it belongs.”Bethlehem Planning Commission member Matthew Malozi
Property owners presented their project sketch plan to the city Planning Commission on Thursday, offering a preliminary look at what’s proposed and a chance for feedback from planners and the public.
The proposed project is allowed by right in the city's Industrial Redevelopment District and will not require any zoning relief.
Steel Ice Center, dubbed on its website as “the premier ice skating facility in the Lehigh Valley,” currently offers two professional-sized ice surfaces and hockey, figure skating and public skating programming.
The facility operates at 320 E. First St., in the shadow of SteelStacks.
It’s also home to other area groups such as the Lehigh University men’s ice hockey team, the Polar Bears of Special Hockey of the Lehigh Valley, and Penguin Figure Skating Club.
