Blyth Arena

The arena was built in 1959 for the 1960 Winter Olympics , the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, as well as for holding ice hockey matches, figure skating competitions as part of the 1960 Winter Olympics . The capacity was 8500 people. During matches between the USA - USSR and USA - Czechoslovakia, 10,000 spectators were reported.

It got its name in honor of Charles R. Blit, an investment banker who headed the California Olympic Commission, ^[1] On the south side of the Blit Arena was opened, which allowed to see the mountains. South of the open side of the arena was a speed skating stadium . Also on the same side of the arena were 70 m and 90 m ski jumps. This side of the arena also encountered ski jumps of 70 m and 90 m and the slopes of the Squaw Valley, now known as the Red Dog. Built from wood and unsupported by jumps after the Games began to gradually collapse

In 1963, the 400-meter speed skating stadium was turned into a parking lot, despite protests by California skaters; since at that time it was known as the only ice-skating stadium with artificial ice in the country. From 1963 to 1983, the Squaw Valley ski operator regularly contacted the state of California to demolish the arena in order to increase the parking area.

In 1982, the U.S. Department of Agriculture focused on energy conservation. One part of this program was funding to improve the insulation of many buildings. The US Forest Service received part of this money to isolate the roof of the arena, and the roof collapsed the following year.

Initially, the roof was built so that it was not able to withstand a lot of snow, but coped with this problem for 23 years without problems. The calculation was that the heat released from the ice making equipment in the arena was sent to the ceiling, heated the uninsulated roof and melted the snow. With energy conservation measures, the snow did not melt due to the waste heat, and the roof collapsed under weight.

The arena was demolished in 1983 after the roof collapsed due to snow accumulation. Now this place is a parking for the Squaw Valley ski resort.

Despite the fact that Blyth Arena was mainly remembered as the place of the Olympic hockey tournament, the team of game hosts won medals in it in personal skaters tournaments: David Jenkins - male and Carol Hayss - female.

In the High Camp there is a new ice arena located at the top of the cable car at an altitude of 2500 meters, and in fact is an open ice rink. It is closed in late spring, summer and early autumn, but in winter, roof panels are removed or the wind can potentially remove them. On this rink there is an emblem in the form of Olympic rings, which make many people think that the Olympic competitions in figure skating and hockey in 1960 were held on this rink, despite the fact that there are no seats for spectators on the rink.

• VIII Olympic Winter Games 1960, Squaw Valley, California: Final Report
• "Family Fun at Squaw Valley." Smith, Lynn. Los Angeles Times . February 24, 1991. Accessed October 27, 2010.