The closure, announced by the Skellefteå municipality in a press release, comes just two days after a crowd of over 5,500 watched Skellefteå AIK's hockey match against Oskarshamn at the same venue.
–The current snow load on the roof exceeds the structure's capacity, stated Fredrik Nilsson, property manager at Skellefteå municipality. – For safety reasons, we cannot allow activities in the building until the snow is cleared.
Municipal crews have begun removing snow from the roof, with the hope of reopening the hall by Thursday.
– We are working diligently with our snow removal contractor, Nilsson told Norran.
– While our goal is to be finished by Thursday, weather conditions could impact the timeline.
The closure disrupts the schedules of various ice hockey teams, including Skellefteå AIK.
– We are actively discussing solutions with the club's acting director, said Nilsson.
– Our priority is to ensure training opportunities, especially for active teams, with our representative teams taking precedence.
Skellefteå AIK's acting club director, Niclas Lundkvist, confirmed ongoing discussions with the municipality.
– We are rearranging the training schedule to minimize inconvenience, he said.
– The women's team, originally scheduled to practice in Hall A, has been relocated to Hall C.
The closure also raises concerns about the upcoming SHL game against Rögle on Thursday.
– We have informed Rögle about the situation, said Lundkvist.
– However, we remain hopeful that the hall will be operational by then.
Therese Wallström, arena manager at Skellefteå Kraft Arena, acknowledged the suddenness of the decision.
– It's unexpected, but we trust the municipality's judgment and hope for a swift resolution, especially with the playoffs approaching, she stated.
