The Bayfield Arena Community Partners Association has released a summary of activity and revenue generated in the three years that they've been marketing the facility.
Their numbers paint a much brighter picture than the one cited by Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel at several recent municipal meetings.
Mayor Hessel quoted Sports Canada statistics in claiming summer activities, specifically soccer, are growing in popularity - while winter sports are declining; adding only 29 kids registered for hockey three years ago compared to 104 for soccer.
But Association chair Ron Keys says hockey registration has increased by 37 per cent over 2014 and registration in the skating club has gone up by 85 per cent.
Keys says revenue has increased from $26,000 in 2013 to $78,000 in 2016. 79 per cent of the 2016 total comes from ice rentals.
Keys adds their information clearly demonstrates if the ice was removed - but the hall continued to run - the loss in revenue would be equal to any reduction in costs.
