The Ideal Rink

[kevinsmithAZ]

So I kind of got this idea from a project I did in Sports Law a few months ago..

If money wasn't an issue (to a degree, let's not be too ridiculous here) and a brand new rink was opening and taking suggestions, what features and or suggestions would you propose to the new owners/builders/management?

I wanna see what everyone's favorite things about their favorite rinks are. Maybe it's that your rink actually has showers, or the restaurant at Silvercreek Sportsplex.. whatever. Just trying to get a good conversation going.

[ACCCT2]

Without a doubt, the Odeum Sports & Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois (http://www.odeumexpo.com -- click on "Photo Gallery", then "Sports Events", then photo #5 -- just LOOK at that INCREDIBLY "GLASSY" SHEEN!). The skating surface is amazingly fast, smooth and photogenic (Roll-On over polished-smooth concrete) and the arena size (3,500 seating capacity) is perfect for what inline hockey should aspire to in terms of a venue that can very easily look 'full' and intimate at the same time, as well as provide for good fan, sponsor and broadcast atmosphere. Obviously, how one finishes off any of the other attendant arena features (restaurant/bar; luxury boxes; pro shop; locker rooms; weight room/health club; etc.) would clearly add to the facilities' marketability and bottom-line profitability.

YUP, an Odeum-floored-&-sized arena -- and ideally, with a 2nd convertable (indoor/outdoor) rink with the same surface -- would be my ideal inline arena facility. And having it preferably located in a major-city "downtown" area (in the USA: New York/Mid-town Manhattan; Chicago/Gold Coast or "Loop"; Boston/Charles River Esplanade; San Francisco/Fisherman's Wharf; etc.) would allow the (2-rink) arena to host major international competitions and tournaments and be busy (and making money!) pretty much year-round, and maybe even 'round the clock.:D

[quick_dry]

Given that it is also my favourite rink, I'd have to agree with ACCCT2 on that suggestion. (I'm not including the third rink there, the sport court up top, that rink was yuck to use and play on)

Obviously the Anaheim pond rink is way too big, but even still it had a pretty good atmosphere for the '98 IIHF World Championship finals (and great sight lines too).

[STEMM]

Cleanliness
I've been to some new rinks and some old rinks. But no matter how state of the art or how basic the rink may be if there's trash on the floor, unmaintained bathrooms, or 1" thick dust on anything you can't reach by hand that's what people will remember.


Staff
The same applies here. If you have a super nice rink and an unfriendly staff, there is no pleasure in being there. If you're at an Old Dog rink and the staff if very friendly and customer orientated, people will come back.

[alex]

Kevin, you know the restaurant at Silvercreek would be the first, and most important, aspect of any dream facility.

[growl89]

For roller hockey a 2,000 seat arena would be ideal I think if our sport ever took off to the public again. If the sport was marketed correctly, I think that it would be a possibility to fill a 2,000 seat arena with no problem.

Having great food for decent prices is also a must. I know at Silvercreek last summer we ate lunch there everyday. Affordable and pretty damn good!

Rink size should be roughly NHL size. There are too many rinks here on the east coast that are shoe boxes.

Showers!! This should be a must. In the leagues we have going, AIHL, PIHA, even some Narch and Torhs events. There are no shower facilities in some buildings, or you have guys walking halfway around the building, through the fans in towels lookings for showers. That is one of the nastiest ways to spread strep like viruses. I was in shock when the showers were off limits last summer at Narch.

A nice pro shop. Too many rinks don't even have anything, even tape! How are we supposed to get the youth into the sport when they can't buy the stuff!

Sure this all sounds ideal... but for the sport to grow, these things needs to be in place so the general public has some respect for the sport.

Two of my favorites to play in are the CT rink and Harrisburg. Huge floors, clean floors, decent boards and glass, showers, pro shop, okay food etc. More rinks should try and model themselves after these two.

[skooled]

good change rooms, well lit, good facilites. plenty of parking is a must, and floor choice is hard to decide on...