Merced’s new San Jose Sharks youth hockey rink on track for March, despite some criticism
Merced’s new San Jose Sharks “tealtop” youth hockey rink continued to kindle both excitement and criticism from city leaders Monday night, as the City Council voted on next steps to bring the project to fruition in Applegate Park.
The outdoor rink would make Merced the latest in a series of annually-chosen locations transformed into youth street hockey rinks by the San Jose Sharks Foundation since 1999. The Applegate Park site marks the first tealtop hockey rink on public property in the region, according to city officials.
The plan comes with the launch of a new recreation program for Merced youth, as well as a “Merced Night” at a San Jose Sharks game during the 2021-22 season with marketing dedicated to the city and local businesses.
The project hinges on a partnership between the San Jose Sharks Foundation and City of Merced, plus the El Capitan Hotel and Mainzer theater – each newly renovated historic downtown businesses associated with the Hyatt’s JDV hotels brand that have championed the tealtop project.
The Merced City Council on Monday approved a sponsorship agreement between those parties that attached a maximum contribution of $83,250 in city-funded dollars to the project – a number that some members of the council say is too much.
“I just feel that this is a waste of funds that could be used better,” City Councilmember Jesse Ornelas said Monday night before casting the lone dissenting vote.
Ornelas also voted against the tealtop when it was first presented as a prospective plan to City Council in September. At the time stated that he would prefer the El Capitan Hotel and Mainzer fund the project in its entirety and leave city funds to be allocated elsewhere.
Councilmember Fernando Echevarria was absent from Monday’s meeting, but previously voted against the project alongside Ornelas in September.
Although not staunchly against the tealtop, Echevarria cited his concerns over ongoing maintenance costs, a lack of engagement with local youth and the fact that the new hockey rink would strip Applegate Park of one of its basketball courts.
Some local residents have joined Ornelas and Echevarria in expressing similar criticism, but the support voiced by members of the public and City Council alike has outweighed those concerns.
The teatlop project is on track for a tentative March ribbon cutting, Merced City Manager Stephanie Deitz told the Sun-Star.
“I think that bringing something different to the youth is an investment in the youth,” said Councilmember Bertha Perez on Monday. “Everybody complains that there’s nothing to do . . . I’m happy this is happening.”
Over the course of the next two months, the City of Merced and Tiechert will conduct necessary maintenance and construction work to transform one basketball court at Applegate Park into a tealtop, Dietz said. The San Jose Sharks Foundation will complete the final stripping as well as provide all youth hockey equipment.
The El Capitan and Mainzer are funding 55% of the project, meaning their contribution is $101,750. The downtown businesses championing the project also secured needed improvements for existing Applegate Park facilities at no cost, according to city officials. The city is left to cover the remaining 45%, coming out to the disputed $83,250 in Merced funds.
Once the tealtop is completed, the new junior hockey recreational program will function much as existing locally funded youth sports do, like the county’s Junior Giants baseball program and the city’s Junior Warriors basketball team.
“It’s another youth program, it’s an improvement to our parks – (there’s) lots of good benefits here,” Merced Mayor Matt Serratto said about the project.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 12:37 PM.
