RoughRiders, city have tentative lease deal

The owners of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the negotiating head of the Five Seasons Facilities Commission have agreed on a long-term lease that keeps the USHL hockey franchise in the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, the RoughRiders and Five Seasons Facilities Commission president Patrick DePalma confirmed Saturday.

The entire Five Seasons Facilities Commission must still approve the lease. It also will not be finalized until there is a public hearing on it and it is OKed by the Cedar Rapids City Council.

"We have been going back and forth," DePalma said. "I guess I believe (the lease) is in its final form. I think we have a document we have agreed upon."

"All looks good," said RoughRiders CEO Jeff Jauch in a Facebook message. "We are very excited for our organization and the city of Cedar Rapids."

Newco Riders LLC - a group that includes RoughRiders head coach/general manager Mark Carlson and his wife - purchased the junior hockey club from a Chicago group last May and signed a non-binding letter of intent with the city for an amendment of an existing lease that expires June 1.

The amended lease included a reduction in annual rent and a 10-percent cut of concessions in exchange for $500,000 in arena improvements. Improvements have been made but a new lease was never agreed upon ... until now.

DePalma said he was uncertain of its length but thought it was for five years with additional five-year options. He also said Newco Riders have expressed an interest in eventually purchasing the Ice Arena.

It is believed the neighboring Cedar Rapids Kernels will eventually get the expiring concessions contract at the Ice Arena. National company Sodexho has been in charge of food and drink at the arena.

DePalma would say only that the Kernels "are being considered."