Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - A deal has been reached to keep the Hyde Park Pavillion Ice Rink in Niagara Falls open for the foreseeable future.
Niagara Falls Mayor Rob Restaino told WBEN on Wednesday they are in the final stages of negotiation, but a new operator will take over in the next several weeks.
The back-and-forth drama over the Hyde Park Pavillion Ice Rink continued earlier this week with Councilman David Zajac saying the rink will close on Sept. 30, and accusing Mayor Restaino of creating a "blockade through city hall" as a reason for not having a new arena operator in place.
"Let's stop all of these shenanigans," Restaino said. "These folks who talk about being concerned about the kids, they really didn't care about the kids. In the end, everyone was caring about their own agenda."
Council members objected after the city accepted the bid of Albany-based Legacy Hospitality and Entertainment Group to operate Hyde Park, wishing instead for the contract to remain with longtime operator Michael Carella.
"The City Council is supposed to be the monitor of the fiscal position of the city, which clearly was not the activity of this council majority," Restaino said.
"That's where this thing lies, it lies in an RFP that was put out, and a successful bidder. Now it's the city's reputation. How do you continue in the RFP business, requesting proposals from people, when you have a City Council that's acting... I don't even understand what was going on in their head."
The Carellas will not be involved in rink operation after Sept. 30. An interim operator may take over before Legacy Hospitality and Entertainment Group's contract begins.
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