Shortage of ice rinks in the DMV -- is there anything that we can do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The economics of running an ice rink are pretty daunting. Its not too bad in the winter, but keeping the ice full (and by full, I mean getting roughly $500 of revenue per hour per rink) in summer is hard. Every time a new rink or sheet of ice is opened, that means that thousands of dollars of extra ice-time need to be sold. And that's hard. Black Bear Sports Group - which owns Piney Orchard and Ice World in Md. and I think is now managing Ft. DuPont - specializes in buying financially distressed rinks, and then renting the ice to hockey teams and tournaments they also control. It seems like a pretty good system, but its not easy to replicate.

But Cabin John and Wheaton are fully scheduled at all times. Their freestyle and public sessions are packed with people. I almost think it's unsafe that they allow so many people on the rink at one time during public skate. I think that, if each Cabin John and Wheaton built even one additional rink, it would be full all the time.

With what money? County tax money? Land close in is really really pricey now. The rec dept doesnt even have $ to staff libraries fully and open more hours on weekends or keep up with maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Bowie built a huge fancy rink about 20 years ago. My understanding is that it’s a financial drain on the city.
I’m generally in favor of public facilities and I enjoy ice skating but really rinks seem like such an environmental disaster, I’m not really sure why public entities should be subsidizing this MC and UMC hobby. Just cause you grew up playing these sports in Boston or Minneapolis doesn’t mean we need to have that level of support for it here in Maryland. If forced to chose, I’d pick more pools as it is more accessible cardiovascular exercises that is much healthier for the joints, plus swim safety is important for everyone, so from a public health perspective, pools are much more beneficial than ice rinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Reston is also run by a group that bought it as a distressed asset. Paul Mulvey is the one who took it fro
tennis club to ice rink. You can see the court material in the Olympic rink still.

My beer league team plays at Reston. We keep hearing the rink isn't long for this world, as the land would be super valuable for other development. Anyone have any real information on this?

LOL. That rumor has been flying since I was playing beer league there 15 years ago. I'm sure the RE is only getting more valuable (or was until the pandemic).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowie built a huge fancy rink about 20 years ago. My understanding is that it’s a financial drain on the city.
I’m generally in favor of public facilities and I enjoy ice skating but really rinks seem like such an environmental disaster, I’m not really sure why public entities should be subsidizing this MC and UMC hobby. Just cause you grew up playing these sports in Boston or Minneapolis doesn’t mean we need to have that level of support for it here in Maryland. If forced to chose, I’d pick more pools as it is more accessible cardiovascular exercises that is much healthier for the joints, plus swim safety is important for everyone, so from a public health perspective, pools are much more beneficial than ice rinks.

Huh? Bowie does not have a "huge fancy rink"- they have a 50 year old rink that has been on its last legs for a while. Every summer, everyone holds their breath to see if the machines will be able to make the ice again...

[Anonymous]

Fairfax city

[Anonymous]

If there is a lot of demand for an ice rink, wouldn’t a private entity build one to make money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I love this idea! Especially with the Yards trying to push TSNY out. I know their circus camps for kids are really popular so there’s clearly local interest.

Wait, what? TSNY is closing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowie built a huge fancy rink about 20 years ago. My understanding is that it’s a financial drain on the city.
I’m generally in favor of public facilities and I enjoy ice skating but really rinks seem like such an environmental disaster, I’m not really sure why public entities should be subsidizing this MC and UMC hobby. Just cause you grew up playing these sports in Boston or Minneapolis doesn’t mean we need to have that level of support for it here in Maryland. If forced to chose, I’d pick more pools as it is more accessible cardiovascular exercises that is much healthier for the joints, plus swim safety is important for everyone, so from a public health perspective, pools are much more beneficial than ice rinks.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowie built a huge fancy rink about 20 years ago. My understanding is that it’s a financial drain on the city.
I’m generally in favor of public facilities and I enjoy ice skating but really rinks seem like such an environmental disaster, I’m not really sure why public entities should be subsidizing this MC and UMC hobby. Just cause you grew up playing these sports in Boston or Minneapolis doesn’t mean we need to have that level of support for it here in Maryland. If forced to chose, I’d pick more pools as it is more accessible cardiovascular exercises that is much healthier for the joints, plus swim safety is important for everyone, so from a public health perspective, pools are much more beneficial than ice rinks.

This

This is imaginary. Bowie scrapped plans to build a new rink and the old one is OLD! More like 50 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The economics of running an ice rink are pretty daunting. Its not too bad in the winter, but keeping the ice full (and by full, I mean getting roughly $500 of revenue per hour per rink) in summer is hard. Every time a new rink or sheet of ice is opened, that means that thousands of dollars of extra ice-time need to be sold. And that's hard. Black Bear Sports Group - which owns Piney Orchard and Ice World in Md. and I think is now managing Ft. DuPont - specializes in buying financially distressed rinks, and then renting the ice to hockey teams and tournaments they also control. It seems like a pretty good system, but its not easy to replicate.

But Cabin John and Wheaton are fully scheduled at all times. Their freestyle and public sessions are packed with people. I almost think it's unsafe that they allow so many people on the rink at one time during public skate. I think that, if each Cabin John and Wheaton built even one additional rink, it would be full all the time.

With what money? County tax money? Land close in is really really pricey now. The rec dept doesnt even have $ to staff libraries fully and open more hours on weekends or keep up with maintenance.

It's not like people skate for free. Each skater pays $16 per hour for freestyle skating. Public skate is $8 per hour. And the sessions are totally packed with people. And if the rinks raised the rates, I am guessing that people would pay it.

In contrast, there is no charge to use a library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The economics of running an ice rink are pretty daunting. Its not too bad in the winter, but keeping the ice full (and by full, I mean getting roughly $500 of revenue per hour per rink) in summer is hard. Every time a new rink or sheet of ice is opened, that means that thousands of dollars of extra ice-time need to be sold. And that's hard. Black Bear Sports Group - which owns Piney Orchard and Ice World in Md. and I think is now managing Ft. DuPont - specializes in buying financially distressed rinks, and then renting the ice to hockey teams and tournaments they also control. It seems like a pretty good system, but its not easy to replicate.

But Cabin John and Wheaton are fully scheduled at all times. Their freestyle and public sessions are packed with people. I almost think it's unsafe that they allow so many people on the rink at one time during public skate. I think that, if each Cabin John and Wheaton built even one additional rink, it would be full all the time.

With what money? County tax money? Land close in is really really pricey now. The rec dept doesnt even have $ to staff libraries fully and open more hours on weekends or keep up with maintenance.

It's not like people skate for free. Each skater pays $16 per hour for freestyle skating. Public skate is $8 per hour. And the sessions are totally packed with people. And if the rinks raised the rates, I am guessing that people would pay it.

In contrast, there is no charge to use a library.

And in the case of Cabin John and Wheaton, they are both in the middle of huge parks. There is easily enough land to add a few more rinks. There are baseball fields there that take up a ton of space and are only used part of the year. Meanwhile, the rinks are packed year-round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skating isn't a thing here - it's not the culture. You'd need to move north to get what you want.

Ice hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

This is traditionally a more southern area, and has a hotter climate. If more people move here from traditional ice sports areas, there will be demand for more rinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skating isn't a thing here - it's not the culture. You'd need to move north to get what you want.

Ice hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the DMV.

It's easy to be the fastest growing when the baseline is near zero

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skating isn't a thing here - it's not the culture. You'd need to move north to get what you want.

Ice hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the DMV.

It's easy to be the fastest growing when the baseline is near zero

Is your skepticism based on actual data, or just on your gut instinct? There is a lot of interest in hockey in this area. The teams all have to compete for ice time.