The Athens professional hockey team’s home opener was canceled Friday, just hours before the puck was set to drop.
The Rock Lobsters — named for a hit song recorded by the B-52s, a legendary band formed in Athens — can’t play because their home, the Akins Ford Arena, hasn’t been granted an occupancy license, the team announced.
“This is an enormous disappointment for our organization, our players and, most importantly, our fans,” a statement from the team said. “We placed our trust in the promises made regarding the completion of Akins Ford Arena. To see this delay impact our ability to deliver on our vision for hockey in Athens is incredibly disheartening. We were ready to make history tonight, and instead, we are left with unanswered questions and unfulfilled promises.”
The Classic Center, downtown near the University of Georgia’s campus, began construction on the $151 million expansion a year ago. Since the arena’s groundbreaking, the timetable for the 8,500-capacity venue’s completion has been pushed back multiple times.
“While the building has received approvals from the planning department, the state elevator inspector, local health inspectors, and passed the smoke control test, the contractors were unable to provide a trouble-free fire panel and, as such, the Fire Marshal was unable to provide a certificate of occupancy,” the Classic Center Authority explained in a statement issued Friday.
The Rock Lobsters have played all of their 11 games on the road, with a 9-2 record. This is the team’s first season in the Federal Prospects Hockey League. The Rock Lobsters were scheduled for two games at home this weekend. Saturday’s game also has been canceled.
The team has experienced “significant strain and unforeseen costs” because of the delays, the team statement said.
“To have to turn away a sold-out crowd and postpone what was to be a defining moment for our organization and the city of Athens is heartbreaking,” said Scott Hull, the team’s vice president, in a statement. “This delay doesn’t just affect our operations; it compromises the trust we’ve worked so hard to build with our community. With almost half the season now impacted, the implications of this delay are deeply troubling.”
A spokesperson said the Classic Center Authority and the team are in communication to determine when games will be rescheduled. The Rock Lobsters posted on social media that tickets will be usable for another game or ticket-holders can call the Classic Center for a refund.
The B-52s are slated to play the first concert in the new arena on Dec. 14.
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