Inferno Announce New Home

January 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Columbia Inferno News Release


RIBEAU Entertainment, LLC. has announced today that they will be building a 6,500 seat arena in Lexington County, South Carolina. The company will be building a facility designed to be home to the Columbia Inferno Hockey Team, an ECHL professional hockey organization that currently is housed in the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, SC. This project will be completed for an estimated $30 million and will bring over 140 full and part-time jobs to Lexington County. The new facility is planned to be in full operation to kick-off the 2007-2008 hockey season.

The Inferno came to the Midlands in 2000 and is affiliated with the AHL's Manitoba Moose and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. ECHL began in 1988 with five teams in three states, and currently plays with 27 teams in 16 states and one Canadian province. Other ECHL teams in South Carolina include the Greenville Grrrowl and the South Carolina Stingrays in Charleston.

The Premier "AA" Hockey League, the ECHL has affiliations with 23 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League and there have been 256 former ECHL players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after playing in the ECHL. In 2004-05, the ECHL drew 4,035,770 fans in the regular season, marking the seventh time in history it has surpassed four million, and averaged 4,004 per game, increasing its attendance for the second season in a row.

Brian McKenna, Commissioner of the ECHL said, "We are excited about the opportunities for this arena and the Inferno with the move to Lexington County. The ECHL remains committed to providing its fans with affordable quality entertainment in a family environment as we continue to focus on the fan. I feel that this facility will exceed all expectations with support like we have had in Lexington County."

Dr. Ezra Riber, Owner and Managing Partner of RIBEAU Entertainment, LLC, added, "We want to thank the Lexington County Council, and our urban neighbors for support of our arena plans. The sports and entertainment industry is an important component of our economy, and we are proud of the cooperation and essential partnerships we have experienced in Lexington County and throughout the Midlands."

Rick Woodard, General Manager and Project Director, said, "We feel that this new arena is a perfect fit in Lexington County. Our new facility is designed with the fan in mind and we are looking forward to an exciting start for our 2007-2008 season of the Inferno in our new arena in Lexington."

Todd Cullum, Chairman of Lexington County Council, said, "We are very excited that RIBEAU Entertainment is bringing professional sports to our county. Their decision shows a confidence that our county will continue to grow and prosper. I feel that this announcement helps to set the tone that Lexington County means business and is open for business."

"Those of us on County Council thank this company and their employees for their decision to grow in Lexington County," said Johnny Jeffcoat, Chairman of the County's Economic Development Committee. "I am pleased and delighted to welcome you to our community and stand ready to assist any way that we can."



ECHL Stories from January 12, 2006


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