The Athens’s Rock Lobsters first ever home game, scheduled for Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., was cancelled earlier today after a delay in safety approval for the team’s stadium, Akins Ford Arena. The cancellation has put future Rock Lobsters matches and promotional events in jeopardy. “The continued postponement raises concerns about Akins Ford Arena’s ability to fulfill its lease agreement with the Athens Rock Lobsters, placing a shadow of uncertainty over the remainder of the season,” the Athens Rock Lobsters stated in a Dec. 6 press release. Graphic by Wyatt Meyer
In a last-minute reversal, the home opener for professional hockey team the Athens Rock Lobsters’ was cancelled after a Certificate of Occupancy was declined for Akins Ford Arena.
After more than a month of construction delays, it seemed as though Athens’s new professional hockey team, the Athens Rock Lobsters, would finally have their long-awaited home opener tonight, Dec. 6.
It was not to be.
An Athens Rock Lobsters press release shared on Dec. 6 confirmed that the team’s home debut would be cancelled after a Certificate of Occupancy was declined for Akins Ford Arena, the team’s stadium. The denial and subsequent cancellation, shared publicly less than five hours before puck drop, has thrown a night meant to be about celebration into upheaval.
The issue, as reported by both WUGA and the Athens-Banner Herald, stemmed from an untested fire system at Akins Ford Arena. Athens-Clarke County Fire Marshal Rick Vaughn visited the building earlier today and deemed it unsafe for attendees.
“This is an enormous disappointment for our organization, our players, and most importantly, our fans,” Athens Rock Lobsters co-owners Barry Cohen and Nancy Peters said in the press release. “To see this delay impact our ability to deliver on our vision for hockey in Athens is incredibly disheartening. We were ready to make history tonight, and instead, we are left with unanswered questions and unfulfilled promises.”
The delay is the second one to impact the Rock Lobsters, who play in the professional Federal Prospects Hockey League. Construction on Akins Ford Arena was originally scheduled to be completed by Oct. 26, in line with the start of the season, but issues in building the stadium forced the new opening date to be pushed back to Dec. 6. At present, there is no timetable for when a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued.
“To have to turn away a sold-out crowd and postpone what was to be a defining moment for our organization and the city of Athens is heartbreaking,”
— Scott Hull,
Athens Rock Lobsters Executive Vice President
The lack of home facilities has contributed to the Rock Lobsters playing just 11 games, the joint-fewest in league. All of their games have been on the road. Further, the press release states that the team’s day-to-day operations have been impacted, as well.
“These challenges include not having a practice facility and traveling (to) one located 1.35 hours away from Athens, extensive out-of-state travel, and the operational strain of managing games without a home base,” the press release stated.
The delays have cast doubt on future Rock Lobsters events. Promotional events like B-52’s Night on Dec. 13, which is scheduled to feature a live performance from the iconic Athens band along with other activities, may now be rescheduled or cancelled unless approved by the ACC government.
“To have to turn away a sold-out crowd and postpone what was to be a defining moment for our organization and the city of Athens is heartbreaking,” Athens Rock Lobsters Executive Vice President Scott Hull stated in the press release. “This delay doesn’t just affect our operations; it compromises the trust we’ve worked so hard to build with our community. With almost half the season now impacted, the implications of this delay are deeply troubling.”
The Classic Center, in which Akins Ford Arena is housed, responded to the cancellations – which also include a second game on Dec. 7 and a Black Tie Gala on Dec. 8 – in another statement.
“We share in the disappointment of the Crustacean Nation and empathize with the Rock Lobster ownership, who have been outstanding partners while being on the road for the first three months of this season,” the Classic Center stated. “The Classic Center Authority and Athens Clarke-County Unified Government will continue to work with JE Dunn (Construction) and their subcontractors to quickly resolve this matter and open our doors to the public as soon as possible.”
