Blyth Arena, Indoor ice rink in Olympic Valley, US
Blyth Arena was an ice skating arena at Squaw Valley, now Olympic Valley, built in 1959 for the 1960 Winter Olympics. Its roof was a suspension system of steel columns, cables and pulleys, and the south side stood open toward the mountains. It seated 8,500 people at an elevation of 6,200 feet (1,890 m).
Built in 1959 for the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, Blyth Arena hosted ice hockey, figure skating and the opening and closing ceremonies, seating 8,500. Its roof relied on waste heat from the ice-making equipment to melt snow. After insulation was added in 1982, snow accumulated and the roof collapsed in late March 1983; the arena was demolished that year and the site became a parking lot.
The arena was named for Charles R. Blyth, the investment banker who chaired the California Olympic Commission. For several years it also hosted the Worldwide Church of God's annual Feast of Tabernacles, where evangelists Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong spoke. The site is now a parking lot, so nothing of the building remains to see.
The arena no longer exists: it was demolished in 1983 and the site is now a parking lot for the Squaw Valley ski area. The rink stood at 6,200 feet (1,890 m), so allow time to acclimatize. The current ice rink is at High Camp, at the top of the cable car at 8,200 feet (2,500 m).
The arena features an open south side facing the speed skating rink, offering views of the surrounding mountains. This design creates a rare connection between the indoor space and the natural landscape.
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