ANDY Kaufmann
THE IGLOO PROJECT
Jacksonville’s Iceman:
DEVELOPING JACKSONVILLE: A SPECIAL REPORT BY BRIAN LUNSFORD
Big dreams, hard work, and a love for Jacksonville are netting big wins for Northeast Florida.
Long Island, NY, Andy was thrilled to partner the Icemen with the NHL’s New York Rangers as an affiliate.
ORIGINS OF SPORTS OWNERSHIP
BUILT FROM THE ICE UP: COMMUNITY FIRST IGLOO
Before becoming the owner of the Jacksonville Icemen, Andy Kaufmann owned a successful survival and camping equipment company. But his dream had always been to be in sports ownership. That dream turned into a reality when publicly traded Smith & Wesson came calling with enough cash to fill up multiple Zamboni machines. The iconic gunmaker’s purchase of Andy’s outdoor gear business allowed the longtime Jacksonville resident to begin laying the groundwork to buy a team. “Now we are living the dream of sports ownership in our dream hometown. I don’t know if words can express how joyful it truly has been,” Andy says.
If sports ownership was Andy listening to his inner 8-year-old self, then surely his next big move is taking advice from his future 80-year-old self. “The genesis of the Igloo was due to the shortage of ice in Northeast Florida,” Andy explains. “The demand far exceeded the supply, which was for us a concern because we really want to continue to grow the sport and the passion for hockey in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.”
Andy owns not only the Icemen, but also the Savannah Ghost Pirates, a professional minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL based in Savannah, GA. “The Savannah Ghost Pirates is an expansion team in the same league as the Icemen, affiliated with the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights,” explains Andy. Growing up in
developing jacksonville By Brian Lunsford
Andy bought the facility formerly known as the Jacksonville Ice & Sportsplex located in the San Marco East Plaza at I-95 and Emerson Street, and immediately began drawing up plans for the Igloo and its future. “We bought the building and the operation that had one sheet of ice and have entered a $23 million renovation to make sure it is the best of the best and the premier facility of its kind in the state,” Andy says. The Igloo now has two sheets of NHL-sized ice, a 210-seat state-of-the-art sports bar–complete with a “frost bar” of ice around the bar’s perimeter to keep beer cold on–as well as an executive chef kitchen. The 104,000-squarefoot facility also includes a restaurant, pro shop, locker rooms, corporate offices, party and event space, and an Esports arena where guests can play NHL Live against Icemen players, Madden NFL, and even non-sports games. CARVING OUT A LEGACY ON ICE
Andy Kaufmann is married with two teenage sons who were born and raised in Jacksonville. His drive to always improve this area goes beyond wins and losses on the ice. “For us, having a passion for hockey, the city of Jacksonville, for the community, and having
...HAVING THE PLATFORM AND ABILITY TO BRING KIDS IN WHO OTHERWISE COULDN’T AFFORD TO SKATE WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE IGLOO 26 • July 2022
@realproducers
realproducersmag.com
”
Jacksonville Real Producers • 27
