Repairs will smooth out Kent’s ShoWare Center ice

Smoother ice will soon return to the ShoWare Center.

Repairs will smooth out Kent’s ShoWare Center ice

Smoother ice will soon return to the ShoWare Center.

The Kent City Council on Tuesday night approved a $78,000 contract with Kent-based Hermanson for an emergency replacement of the hot water tank that fills the tanks on the Zamboni machine to resurface the ice.

“It takes out impurities and oxygen in the water and allows a much cleaner sheet of ice to be laid on,” said Ben Wolters, city economic and community development director, in a request to the council for the repairs. “We can’t do that now because we use lukewarm water and the ice is a little cloudy and a little rougher. For aesthetics and skater safety, this needs to happen. We need to move forward as quickly as possible.”

The city-owned ShoWare Center opened in 2009 and parts of the facility are starting to wear out, Wolters said. The warranty had expired on the current hot water tank that serves the Zamboni.

“Technology has improved,” Wolters said about the new tanks. “It will be a more efficient and effective system. It provides and treats water for the Zamboni, the vehicle that puts on a new layer of ice between periods of hockey and other ice shows.”

The Seattle Thunderbirds are the anchor tenant of the arena. The T-Birds are a junior team that plays in the Western Hockey League. Their season runs from fall through spring. Disney on Ice makes regular visits to the arena and will return Nov. 2-7.

Mayor Suzette Cooke pointed out to Wolters that the replacement of the hot water tank also will allow ads placed on the ice to be seen easier.

“Yes, advertisers prefer ads on the ice to be fully visible as opposed to behind a cloudy surface,” Wolters said.

Hermanson will remove the existing hot water tank from the arena’s mechanical room and replace it with two tanks, each with a 15-year manufacturer’s warranty. Crews also will install a 200-gallon storage tank with a 25-year warranty.

“In the event one unit fails, you still have minor non-peak redundancy,” according to Hermanson’s contract proposal about the reasons for two tanks. “The additional storage tank and crossover plumbing allows for system redundancy in the event the primary (non-Zamboni) water heater fails.”

The city has a $300,000 a year fund for capital and maintenance for the ShoWare. SMG, which manages the arena, also provided the city with a $500,000 loan to help cover maintenance costs.

Other recent projects at the ShoWare include the installation of new LED sports lights for $148,000 (with a $40,000 rebate from Puget Sound Energy); $56,000 for new digital menu boards at concession stands; an estimated $175,000 for new carpet in the club lounge and offices; $20,000 to polish the concourse floors; $32,000 for LED parking lot lights; and $60,000 for new trash cans.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

File Photo
Kent Police officer shoots, injures man in Des Moines

Feb. 14 incident under review by Valley Independent Investigative Team

People line SE 272nd Street in Covington on Presidents Day, Feb. 17 to protest many of the actions by the Trump administration. COURTESY PHOTO, Ron Auerbach
People line Covington street to protest Trump, Musk actions

One of many protests across the nation against ‘the anti-democratic and illegal actions’

Charlene Honda at the Day of Remembrance on Feb. 8, 2025, at the Washington State Fairgrounds. Photo by Bruce Honda
Federal Way woman recalls her time in U.S. concentration camp

‘It’s good for people to hear what happened so that it never happens again.’

t
Man fatally shot by Kent Police had high blood alcohol level

Crime lab test results show 0.27 blood concentration level in August 2024 shooting at apartments

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Construction set in Kent for 74th Ave. S. and Willis Street

Crews to install traffic islands, curbing at busy intersection

t
Kent Police Blotter: Jan. 26 to Feb. 6

Incidents include vehicle prowls, carjacking arrest, police pursuits, shots fired

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Former Kentlake High School teacher pleads guilty to sex charge

Jesse Webb, 46, pleads guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes

t
Kent School Board appoints Teresa Gregory to vacant seat

Gregory selected from among 7 finalists to replace Awale Farah

Karen Keiser. COURTESY PHOTO
Former state Sen. Karen Keiser appointed to state Exchange health board

Health Benefit Exchange formed as part of Affordable Care Act

Crews on the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County install the framework for a new bus stop on SR 516, also known as Kent-Des Moines Road. The SR 509 Completion Project includes new or improved connections to existing transit centers and stops. COURTESY PHOTO, WSDOT
Eastbound SR 516 ramp to I-5 in Kent to close for 4 months

Drivers heading to northbound I-5 will use a temporary left turn lane

Courtesy Photo, King County
Tacoma boy, 17, charged with murder in November 2024 Kent case

Reportedly fired six shots into vehicle that killed 21-year-old SeaTac man on West Hill

t
CW series ‘Police 24/7’ features Kent indecent exposure case

Department also part of future TV episodes after crews responded on calls with police in 2024