The aerial view of the former rink located right next door to the Hover Cart City IOM, another recreational facility. Source: Google Map.
This was a beautiful Roller City Isle of Man in UK area. All courtesy of Steve Woodward and Roller City of Isle of Man.
Roller City Isle of Man (aka Roller City IOM) Balthane estate, Ballasalla, Isle of Man
Roller City Isle of Man aka Roller City IOM which closed for good on 30 April 2021 in Balthane Estate, Ballasalla, Isle of Man. I could not find the street but from my educated guess it is really in Balthane Industrial Estate near the airport. But which one? I did not see the name of the rink. It is a small town. I can see that.
They were in business for some number of years but they closed for good on 30 April 2021 due to financial hardship that they blame on COVID - 19 restrictions and that made it very difficult for the rink to operate because of lack of customers. This is being in a very small town. I saw on the map. I do not know the population. Maybe in under 50,000 people.
The owner, Steve Woodward, felt lack of support from the government during the lockdowns amid the COVID pandemic. The same from the public. This forced him to close.
Steve along with his parents, Joan and Colin operated the rink.
The opening date was very recently! Around Friday 17 of July 2020! They closed just months later. Not even a year they were in business. Oh boy! This is bad. Just started out. Yes, the craze of roller skating is back but wrong time-- the COVID lockdown.
The Interior.
It appeared it has Concrete floor. It is in Navy Ship Gray. It has words on the rink too. But what I like is the wall that has colorful people on skates silhouette on the walls with stars. Those colors are black lights colors.
Of course, I see arrows on the wall too! That helps direct children and adult alike to skate in proper direction. The same as in running track you see in the Olympics. They move in that direction. Going left in turns.
What I also love is their skate rental counter. They have colorful lights under the countertop and really can shine when they have black lights on or dimmed lights.
They have well organized shelves of skates. A pair of skate per slot. This is great because if some rinks do not do that, their wood counter with all those skates weighting about 5 to 10 pounds can push down long plyboards of wood and can sag. Not this one. Really good shelves they have. I do not know what is that next to the rental counter though. Very bright yellow thingy. It reminded me of Lucy's Doctor's in booth. Or some children homemade storefront stands selling fresh squeeze lemonade for a nickel. (Kids, you need a license now with the local health department near you and the state you live in and those cost a bundle in fees and taxes so try to sell at 2 Dollars now if you want to start a lemonade stand. Ask your mom and dad about this).
Of course, they have organized Carpetiles. I love all in this place. Very well organized and clean looking and well designed place. Small though. Everything in Isle of Man is small, I tell you. Roads narrow, tight homes and businesses.
The Exterior.
The rink was housed in a large building that housed a few other businesses in an industrial park near the airport. In fact, about 2 blocks from the airport as I can see on Google Map. And off of the main road that goes to a larger town called, Castletown. Skating patrons and parents had to share parking with other customers that went to other venues.
It is a Gable roofed Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building. Most of the buildings around that building are in similar design. A group of buildings in this development.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 17 July 2020 to 30 April 2021.
Reason for Closure: Financial hardship due to COVID lockdowns and lack of government support.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Facebook - Roller City IOM; 3 FM News - owner lashes at government for lack of support (PDF);
IOM Today - Closing of the rink (PDF); ManiRadio - Grand opening (PDF);
Date of issue: 08 May 2021.
For office use only: 7 p total, 1 map, 5 pxs, 1 Fb p.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
They were in business for some number of years but they closed for good on 30 April 2021 due to financial hardship that they blame on COVID - 19 restrictions and that made it very difficult for the rink to operate because of lack of customers. This is being in a very small town. I saw on the map. I do not know the population. Maybe in under 50,000 people.
The owner, Steve Woodward, felt lack of support from the government during the lockdowns amid the COVID pandemic. The same from the public. This forced him to close.
Steve along with his parents, Joan and Colin operated the rink.
The opening date was very recently! Around Friday 17 of July 2020! They closed just months later. Not even a year they were in business. Oh boy! This is bad. Just started out. Yes, the craze of roller skating is back but wrong time-- the COVID lockdown.
The Interior.
It appeared it has Concrete floor. It is in Navy Ship Gray. It has words on the rink too. But what I like is the wall that has colorful people on skates silhouette on the walls with stars. Those colors are black lights colors.
Of course, I see arrows on the wall too! That helps direct children and adult alike to skate in proper direction. The same as in running track you see in the Olympics. They move in that direction. Going left in turns.
What I also love is their skate rental counter. They have colorful lights under the countertop and really can shine when they have black lights on or dimmed lights.
They have well organized shelves of skates. A pair of skate per slot. This is great because if some rinks do not do that, their wood counter with all those skates weighting about 5 to 10 pounds can push down long plyboards of wood and can sag. Not this one. Really good shelves they have. I do not know what is that next to the rental counter though. Very bright yellow thingy. It reminded me of Lucy's Doctor's in booth. Or some children homemade storefront stands selling fresh squeeze lemonade for a nickel. (Kids, you need a license now with the local health department near you and the state you live in and those cost a bundle in fees and taxes so try to sell at 2 Dollars now if you want to start a lemonade stand. Ask your mom and dad about this).
Of course, they have organized Carpetiles. I love all in this place. Very well organized and clean looking and well designed place. Small though. Everything in Isle of Man is small, I tell you. Roads narrow, tight homes and businesses.
The Exterior.
The rink was housed in a large building that housed a few other businesses in an industrial park near the airport. In fact, about 2 blocks from the airport as I can see on Google Map. And off of the main road that goes to a larger town called, Castletown. Skating patrons and parents had to share parking with other customers that went to other venues.
It is a Gable roofed Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building. Most of the buildings around that building are in similar design. A group of buildings in this development.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 17 July 2020 to 30 April 2021.
Reason for Closure: Financial hardship due to COVID lockdowns and lack of government support.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Facebook - Roller City IOM; 3 FM News - owner lashes at government for lack of support (PDF);
IOM Today - Closing of the rink (PDF); ManiRadio - Grand opening (PDF);
Date of issue: 08 May 2021.
For office use only: 7 p total, 1 map, 5 pxs, 1 Fb p.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.