OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – Two popular ice arenas in West Michigan are now under new ownership.
Griff’s IceHouse West in Holland and Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena were acquired by Black Bear Sports Group, which owns and operates over 40 ice rinks across the country.
It’s unclear how much the arenas were sold for. Messages left with Black Bear representatives seeking additional information were not immediately returned on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Both facilities will undergo significant repairs and improvements. One immediate change was renaming the rinks Holland Ice Arena and Hudsonville Ice Arena.
The ownership change is not expected to interrupt any programs this season.
The company said upgrades across both locations are expected to cost millions.
“We’re proud to support that tradition and do the essential work that keeps these rinks reliable and the experience consistent for years to come,” said Murry N. Gunty, founder and CEO of Black Bear Sports Group.
In a letter to Holland and Hudsonville league members, the company outlined other expected changes. For Holland Ice Arena, a top priority is repairing and replacing the rink’s dehumidification system.
Georgetown Township built and initially operated the Hudsonville arena in 2004. The arena was sold to DP Fox Ventures in 2018 for $1 million. DP Fox is the owner of the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team.