The facility will offer two full-size ice sheets for recreational skaters and San Antonio's community of figure skaters and hockey players. A minor league hockey team, owned by the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, will use the facility for practice. The team will play its games at the Spurs new home, the SBC Center in downtown San Antonio.

Barshop Ventures, affiliated with the San Antonio-based Barshop & Oles real estate firm, and Dallas-based Winshire Cos. are developing the ice facility as Ice Partners Ltd. International Bank of Commerce, based in Laredo, has provided the project's financing. Insiders tell GlobeSt.com the cost is $6.5 million.

In addition to the ice rinks, the center will have a snack bar, video game room, pro shop and locker rooms, according to Bruce Barshop, a principal in Barshop Ventures. He says there are several reasons for putting an ice center in San Antonio. "Starting with that my son plays hockey," he says with a laugh.