News

October 19^th, 2012

Elmira (WENY) - Managers at First Arena get another ten days to complete repairs or else face the threat of being in default. The people buying the home of the jackals, who also hold the mortgage, say they are giving the current managers more time to accomplish the goals set out in court earlier this month. They are working as fast as they can to fix the problems while trying to run the arena, just as the hockey season has started. But if they aren't holding up their end of the most recent court agreement the arena could be handed over to ELM and local business owner Tom Freeman. Managers at First Arena say they are still waiting for parts for the Zamboni, waiting for the contractor to fix the compressor and because of that the future owners, ELM, are working with them. The mortgage holder, ELM Arena sent a letter of default to the management company, Elmira Downtown Arena, demanding information about repairs. ELM wants proof certain repairs and maintenance problems are being taken care of, and claims EDA isn't responding quickly enough, therefore EDA is in default. Matt Huffnagel the General Manager for First Arena says they are working as fast as they can and that ELM has given them an extension on the deadline.

      “It just takes time if you have to fix whatever it is, weather it be a compressor, pipes, a roof, no matter what it happens to be we have to have contractor come out look at it give you a quote. These things don't happen overnight as anybody who owns a house knows it takes time and we've been communicating and everything has been great on it,” says Huffnagel.

      ELM executives want to do a complete inspection by the end of the month to see that everything's fixed. EDA is due back in court for bankruptcy proceedings on November 1.