After closure announcement prompted pushback, the Central Coast Sports Arena’s operators said they now expect to receive a revised rental rate from the Santa Maria Fairpark, but whether that will save the popular site remains unclear.

The Central Coast Sports Arena (CCSA), operating for 29 years, is an in-line skating and hockey rink business that leases its facility at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

The arena is home to the Cal Poly Hockey Club, youth and adult hockey teams, roller derby and more.

Arena representatives first learned last year the Fairpark might not renew the lease amid talks about a possible increase in the rental rate.

The CCSA currently pays about $3,500 a month, a rate that has not been adjusted for inflation since 2008, according to Fairpark Interim CEO Todd Ventura.

If the lease were adjusted for inflation, the monthly rent would be around $5,390, and if the lease were comparable to the market value of other properties in Santa Maria, it would cost about $20,500 a month. 

While Ventura said the future rent is still up for negotiation, the Fairpark is  “going to want to get as close to market value as we can.”

Arena co-owner Tobin Flamm said he hopes to see a tangible figure to continue CCSA’s operation. 

“We respect their business model, their business ethics, and their intention and goals and reasons behind those,” Flamm said. “If they give us a reasonable figure, yes, we’re willing…

“We plan on staying. We intend to stay. We’re fighting to stay. I’m putting every moment of my life in hopes that we’ll be able to get this renewed.”

Fairpark operators notified CCSA that they will be able to give them a revised rental rate by late August. 

Santa Maria Fairpark is a state-instituted agency operated by the 37th District Agricultural Association. The fairpark’s board of directors is made up of volunteers who are appointed by California’s governor. 

Discussions on the lease renewal began over a year ago, and in November the Fairpark told CCSA representatives the lease wouldn’t be renewed, Ventura said.

He added that the fairpark is looking to utilize the space for more popular activities such as pickleball and basketball. 

Longtime CCSA patron Garrett Matsura disagreed.

“I feel like there are other venues up and down the Central Coast that already have pickleball or basketball,” Matsura said. “There are a number of basketball-type venues, and the Central Coast Sports Arena does provide the ability to do things like indoor soccer, and I’m sure that there are other sports that could be utilizing that space as well.”

Several factors contributed to the fairpark not providing a new rental rate to CCCA yet, including a lack of market research and prepping for the Santa Barbara County Fair, Ventura said.

After CCSA was informed about the potential lack of a lease renewal, longtime patron Eric Stolz created a fundraiser that has since received $1,180 in donations to bring awareness.

“It wasn’t focused on seeking funds, money, any of that sort,” Flamm said. “It was more just like, ‘Hey guys, I want you guys to be aware, we might be getting kicked out in a few months, and we have no idea what to do, or what we’re doing, or where we’re heading.’”

Flamm said he is open to the idea of relocating the CCSA, but noted the challenges the company would face, including finding a suitably sized facility and, if needed, a place to store equipment. 

Stolz also emphasized the importance of the arena for the community, as it exists during a time when “kids are running out of things to do.”

“Central Coast Sports Arena gives them a place to go,” said Stolz, who’s been utilizing the facility since the late 1980s.

Ventura said that while the arena has been a positive for the community, the passion is largely invested in sentimentality.

“Things like [this] change, and nostalgia is just that – it’s nostalgic,” Ventura said. “So I do think that it’s been a positive impact on our community. Sort of the debate is, how many people has it touched?”

Whatever the fairpark decides, Flamm vowed to try to keep the CCSA in operation.

“Skating has been part of my life since I was 4 years old, and I was hoping it would be a part of my life until I die….I’m going to keep fighting for as long as I can,” Flamm said.