| Iceoplex Simi Valley, formerly Easy Street Arena is home to the Ventura Mariners and Southern California Titans. It IS the coldest venue in SCAHA. The rink has two sheets, one Olympic and one NHL, with raised grandstand seating on each side and exceptional site lines for watching a game (I.e. no obstructing pillars like at Glacial Lakewood and Panorama City Valley Ice). Additionally, a lack of protective netting in front of the grandstands (unusual in this day and age of hyper-litigation), allows photographers to take game action pictures. There also exists viewing from the warm rooms behind the goal, but this generally is not a great place from which to view a game. Iceoplex has a new enclosed full-service snack bar but plans for an adjacent sports bar have apparently been scrapped. No sports on television nor publicly accessible WIFI exists on the property. There are several high-end video game machines which nobody plays because it's just too darn cold. The pro shop has a very nice assortment of equipment and offers on the premises skate sharpening. The locker rooms are very roomy as are the benches. There are several restaurants in the immediate area, though nothing fancier than Chili's. The recently built Simi Town Center has numerous dining options and is only one freeway exit East of the rink. Additionally, just down the road a couple of miles sits the Ronald Reagan Presidential Libraray including the new Air Force One exhibit. Iceoplex Simi Valley has been a favorite venue of USA Hockey for the Pacific District Championships. Overall, the joint appears cold and cavernous. Perhaps an enclosed lobby and some sort of covered atrium out front could help to spruce it up a bit. Come on, build the sports bar and add a cigar humidor while you're at it (something like this would be very nice). When you go to Simi, just don't forget your parka and perhaps a couple of those oxygen-activated hand warmers. |
