Grundy Arena Proves To Be Asset For Bristol, Surrounding Area

The Grundy Arena in Bristol Borough is a hub of activity throughout the year.

The arena located not far from the Borough Hall offers the area a lot. It brings in folks from outside Bristol on account of travel hockey and regional teams using the facility and it gives kids and teenagers a safe place to hangout on Fridays and Saturdays. There are programs that teach people to skate, hockey teams, public skate, public hockey and more constantly going on at the arena. People of any age can learn to skate and play hockey, as well.

The building was constructed in 1996, with an additional rink added in 1998. Since then, countless kids have come through the programs at the arena.

The arena itself is owned by Bristol Borough and run by the Bristol Borough Recreational Authority, a separate entity appointed by the Bristol Borough Council. The entity is self sufficient and pays the borough at the end of each year for services provided to the building like snowplowing the parking lot.

“For a little town to own something like this is phenomenal,” said Carol Garrahan, a liaison between the arena and the borough.

She said middle schools, high schools, adults, and travel teams all use the arena. While open skates and lessons appeal more towards the Bristolians, Pennsbury, Neshaminy, and Harry S. Truman high schools use the rink as home ice.

“Between fitness and fun, it is a great experience,” explained Mike McVey, the manager of the arena.

McVey has been involved with skating and hockey through his whole life. When he was younger he played hockey before going to school to be a teacher. Now, running hockey clinics and managing the Grundy Arena, McVey still uses the lesson he learned while studying to become a teacher.

Many hockey players who come through the Grundy arena go on to play at a higher level. According to McVey, many kids go on to play collegiate hockey. One player, Ryan Gunderson, has been playing professionally in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and is on the men’s olympic hockey team this year.

During the hockey season, which runs from mid-August until mid-March, the arena is packed every day with kids coming from schools to prictice during the evening. During the off season, the second ice surface is removed to make room for other events like boxing matches and banquets.

“I think Grundy is great. It has been great as long as we have been there,” said David Coyne, the head coach of Pennsbury’s varsity ice hockey team. In addition to coaching varsity, Coyne is the assistant coach of one of the district’s middle school teams and is the vice president of the hockey club’s board.

The hockey club is at the arena anywhere between four and six times each week, Coyne explained. He added that his son plays for Pennsbury’s varsity team as well as the Grundy Senators travel team.

“The rink really does accommodate all of the teams and our events,” he said.

Each year, Pennsbury hosts the “Lois Daly Fight Against Cancer Memorial Cup,” which packs the arena for games benefitting the fight against cancer.

In the first years of operation, the arena was unsuccessful at making money and being a self-sustaining operation, arena officials said.

“After operating under [Borough Manager Jim] Dillon for a few years, there was actually some money to give back,” Garrahan said.

In 2017 through 2018, the arena had an operating budget of $1,054,700.

For more information on Grundy Arena, visit their website.