State volleyball fans react to Ice Arena temporary location

CEDAR RAPIDS- A 20 year tradition of the Iowa High School Girls State Volleyball Tournament continued Wednesday in Cedar Rapids, but this time in a different location.  Normally it's held in the US Cellular Center, but because of renovations as part of the new convention complex, it's being held at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.  Despite its location, smaller in size, and the fact that it is an ice arena some volleyball fans are happy with this temporary venue. 

"We did look around to other cities in the state to see if we could move it around for another year,” said Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Assistant Director Lisa Brinkmeyer. 

Last winter, the location of the state volleyball tournament was in limbo.  Ultimately, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union picked the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena as a temporary home for all the bumps, set, and spikes. 

"I'm glad that it did stay in Cedar Rapids and not go back to Des Moines,” said Cedar Rapids Kennedy High Fan Rebecca Parker. 

But the venue has some shortcomings like covering the ice.  

"We have a two inch foam covering that covers the ice and then another cover on top of that and then our sport court goes on that,” said Brinkmeyer. 

The Ice Arena only seats about half the Cell Center's 7,000 seat capacity. 

"At the Cell Center, the fans are located on the upper level where they have a nice view of the court and they're also away from the athletes,” said Brinkmeyer. 

But a more intimate setting accommodates the same spunk.

"I like the closeness of the fans of the court so they can get a little closer they can see and the kids on the floor can feel their fans pushing them and helping them and things I like it here,” said Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln Fan Rob Kennedy. 

Rob Kennedy drove from Council Bluffs to see his daughter make a run at the state title.

"I used GPS which helped quite a bit.  I think it might need to be marked a little bit better for the folks coming out of town,” said Kennedy. 

And with the roadblocks come the positives.  The Ice Arena has more locker rooms and free parking. 

The state volleyball tourney will be back in the U-S Cellular Center next year as the first major event in the new Cedar Rapids Convention Complex.