YOUNGSTOWN Zoldan's interest in arena wanes

The businessman is talking about expanding his Ice Zone rink in Boardman and bringing in minor-league hockey.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- For a man thought to be out of the downtown arena game, Bruce Zoldan has been quite prominent in recent days.
A week ago, the businessman's name found its way into a letter to the mayor from Congressman James A. Traficant, who characterized Zoldan as the type of investor the city shouldn't be ignoring.
The next day, Zoldan appeared at an arena board meeting where a business partner relayed their frustration with the languishing proposed city project.
Despite originating the arena concept several years ago, Zoldan, who heads B.J. Alan Co., insists his interest has moved away from being the main force behind the project.
"I'm much distanced from the energy and the optimism I had," he said. "It's diminished quite significantly."
Some possibilities: Nonetheless, Zoldan leaves open the chance that he still could be a player.
That could be as owner of a minor-league hockey team in the building. He also might invest in the project, but to a lesser degree than he envisioned. Or, Zoldan said, there is a slight chance he could become reinvigorated with the idea of taking a lead role.
That would happen if politics disappeared and the project were put into the hands of professionals, he said. He advocates city council's giving the civic center board full authority to build the arena.
For now, he said that isn't the case and he doesn't see it happening.
"I don't think it's on the right track," Zoldan said of the project. "I'm not optimistic that ... ever will be the case."
Zoldan said he has started talking about expanding his Ice Zone rink in Boardman and bringing in minor-league hockey. Nothing is imminent, but Zoldan said he isn't waiting for Youngstown.
"I've moved on," he said.
About funding: The $1.5 million he secured from the state for an arena two years ago is about to be returned, he said. He hopes the money can stay in the Valley but isn't sure.
October looked like the time the arena board would work out a contract with the city over who controlled the project and start making plans for the building.
Instead, the contract has politically polarized council and the arena board so much that the board's future is in doubt.
It's that kind of politics that holds up progress, he said. Business people can't function within such politics, Zoldan said. That is especially true of projects such as the arena, he said.
"When you try to make everybody happy, everybody suffers. Political figures should not be involved whatsoever," Zoldan said.
rgsmith@vindy.com