NYC Update: 750,000 Sq. Ft. Ice Rink Facility to Open

The world’s largest indoor ice center is being constructed in the Bronx, New York at the Kingsbridge Armory.  The announcement by Mayor Bloomberg won support by many local officials last year as well as former New York Ranger Mark Messier.  The project is in the beginning stages of the public and environmental review process and hopefully the groundbreaking will take place in late 2014.  The first phase of development will focus on five ice skating rinks and a community space, which will hopefully be complete by September 2018.  The second phase will take an additional year to complete.  The hope is to draw approximately 2 million visitors per year

When all is said and done, this indoor facility will be a 750,000 square foot (not a typo) ice center, with nine indoor regulation size ice skating rinks, useable for hockey national and international hockey tournaments, figure and speed skating competitions, and ice shows.  At least two rinks will be for sled hockey, i.e., hockey for individuals with disabilities.  In addition to the rinks, there will be dressing rooms, lockers, retail space for sports goods, parking for 480 cars, and a wellness center with off-ice training fitness, rehabilitation, sports therapy programs.

Click here to read the details surrounding Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement.