Southpointe’s former Iceoplex renamed, new restaurant announced
Southpointe’s legacy sports complex officially became Printscape Arena at Southpointe on Thursday, as the 22-year-old venue also prepared to welcome a new restaurant by month’s end.
The changes occurred after a Maryland-based private equity firm in February purchased the financially troubled site originally known as the Iceoplex.
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Rich Hopf, ice hockey director of Printscape Arena at Southpointe, speaks at the renaming ceremony Thursday.
In a news conference sponsored by the Southpointe Chamber of Commerce, those involved in the new incarnation of one of the business park’s early projects – it opened in 1995 – said the arena will continue its mission of providing a facility for hockey teams of all ages, as well as soccer, volleyball, lacrosse and other sports.
MurryGunty, a principal with Blackstreet Capital Holdings of Chevy Chase, Md., said Thursday the private equity firm specializes in purchasing financially troubled businesses and turning them around. He said the firm’s Black Bear Sports Group purchased the Iceoplex, one of several ice arenas it owns, including sites in Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and New York.
He said the firm’s strategy is to buy ice arena properties in areas that are located in National Hockey League markets “where there’s strong NHL fan support.” He noted that kind of support usually translates into children and adults using the arenas for in-house hockey leagues.
For many years, the Iceoplex was a practice facility for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gunty noted that Black Bear also owns an arena in Maryland that was formerly a practice facility for the Washington Capitals.
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State Sen. Camera Bartolotta welcomes John Dziak, CEO/owner of Printscape Inc., as the new naming rights partner of the former Iceoplex in Southpointe.
Black Bear’s various properties collectively draw between 4 million and 5 million people a year, he said.
John Dziak, owner of Printscape Imaging & Graphics, which is headquartered in Robinson Township but also has an office in Southpointe, said when he learned of the new ownership of the facility, he was considering becoming a sponsor, but was also told naming rights were available. He signed a multi-year agreement for the rights.
“We’re a local company,” Dziak said, noting that Printscape, which specializes in branding solutions for companies, has MedExpress and Mylan as clients, as well as Trek bicycles.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Bubba Snider, co-owner of Bubba’s Gourmet Burghers and Beer, talks about the farm-to-table food that will be served and the atmosphere of the restaurant.
The local business angle also was expressed by Bubba Snider, co-owner of Bubba’s Gourmet Burghers and Beer, which will open its third location in the space formerly occupied by BLVD Pub and Kitchen.
Bubba’s Burghers, which is co-owned by Snider’s childhood friend, disabled U.S. Navy retiree Ed Kelly, has other locations in South Fayette Township and Triadelphia, W.Va. The restaurant specializes in using locally raised beef that is 100 percent fresh. The burgers are made with a blend of New York strip, ribeye, sirloin and brisket.
“We’re a local business; we’re not a chain,” Snider said. He said the decision to open a unit in Printscape Arena “was a unique opportunity to be associated with a complex that operates 365 days a year.” He said the restaurant is expected to open by Thanksgiving.