Leaders of the Legacy Ice Foundation, the facility’s nonprofit operator, say they have already made gains toward that turnaround: The American Collegiate Hockey Association, which governs non-varsity hockey, announced it chose the Maryland Heights ice center as the host of its 2025, 2027 and 2028 national championships, with an option to return in 2026. Players from 82 teams will compete in 121 games, according to a news release.

“They’re aware of what’s going on,” said Dave Otto, chairman of the Legacy Ice Foundation and a former St. Louis Blues executive, on the facility’s financial troubles. “They know we’ve got a great facility, and they can’t wait to be here.”

Still, Otto and Blues President and CEO Chris Zimmerman acknowledged on Monday that operations have to improve.

“There’s certain elements of the business plan that have to change to fix that and all parties are working towards that,” Zimmerman said.

When it opened in 2019, the four-rink, $83 million facility was touted as public-private partnership with the Blues, Legacy Ice Foundation and the city of Maryland Heights to grow economic development and the region’s stature as a premiere location for ice sports.

The foundation, which is led by current and former back-office Blues executives, raised around $30 million in donations and the city of Maryland Heights took out $55.5 million in bonds to go towards construction of the rink, at 750 Casino Drive, off Interstate 70 and Highway 141. The four-rink ice center was projected to make millions of dollars a year and serve as another lynchpin for the city of Maryland Heights’ goal to be an entertainment destination.

Instead, expenses have outpaced revenues, and the city has had to move money from its other funds to make debt payments. Last week, the city defaulted on the bonds after one account had just $18 in it and couldn’t make a payment. The default could ultimately end with the bank seizing the facility.

Maryland Heights officials did not agree to an interview with the Post-Dispatch but sent a statement:

“The city has more than fulfilled these obligations (to bondholders) over the past few years by providing funding beyond what is legally required,” the statement read. “We are continuing to work with the Legacy Ice Foundation on the operation of the Community Ice Center to ensure its future success.”

Business has grown at the ice center. Hockey program participants jumped from 312 in 2020 to 1,575 in 2021; the adult league grew from 1,088 players to 1,268 that same period; and facility rentals grew from seven events to nine in 2020 to 2021, according to bond documents.

It just hasn’t been enough.

The foundation has said that the coronavirus pandemic and the current inflationary problems hitting the economy have slowed the facility’s ability to make money.

“Expenses were and still are, in some cases, growing pretty fast — just like every household in the country is dealing with food and utility prices,” said Otto, the nonprofit chairman. “That’s one of the things we’re looking at, is how we can better adjust our revenues to match this inflationary environment.”

One revenue stream may be women’s hockey, where the foundation aims to capitalize on Lindenwood University’s women’s team as well as the new professional women’s ice hockey league that will launch in January.

“The market for girls and young women has been underserved in North America for a long time,” Otto said, “and we think we can make St. Louis the capital of girls’ hockey.”

The foundation also is vying for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championships, for which Maryland Heights is a final contender, Otto said. Ten countries around the world — along with hundreds of players, staff, coaches, parents, fans and professional hockey scouts — descend on a city for three weeks. The event, if the Centene Community Ice Center wins the bid, would be among the biggest sports tournaments the region has ever hosted, Otto said.

It would be another coup for the facility, city, foundation and Blues, Otto and Zimmerman said.

Regardless, the facility’s concept remains gold, Otto said: The public can watch the Blues practice, take part in their own hockey game and enjoy top-tier food and beverage options, including an exclusive barrel bourbon selection that’s only available there.

Best yet, he added, the facility is achieving its goal of cultivating ice sports.

“This isn’t your normal, average, everyday community ice rink,” Otto said. “This is truly an original facility.”