In a city that is known for its warm winter weather, Phoenix residents, students and tourists can put on a scarf, lace up their ice skates and get ready to glide across a new ice rink in the heart of downtown.
The NRG CityScape Ice Rink, located in the west block of CityScape between Central and First avenues, will open on Saturday and run through Jan. 15.
The ice rink will operate between the hours of 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and skaters will also be able to “Skate with Santa” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. from the opening date until Dec. 22 said David Roderique, president and CEO of Downtown Phoenix Partnership.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said he thinks the ice rink will revitalize a Phoenix holiday tradition that has been neglected.
“There is no better time for the community to come together than at the holidays,” Gordon said in a written statement. “And no finer tradition for holiday celebration than ornaments on a tree and an ice skating rink.”
ASU men’s hockey player Taylor Chomiski said he loves the idea of outdoor public skating in the desert.
“Ice skating is just fun in general,” Chomiski, a sophomore business major, said. “An outdoor rink adds to the magic and experience for everyone.”
The rink is operated by American Skating Entertainment Centers, which also sets up temporary rinks in Los Angeles and New York.
Admission into the rink will be $10, which includes skates if people do not have their own. Also, refreshments and hot chocolate will be served at the rink.
The name of the ice rink comes from one of its main sponsors, NRG Thermal LLC, which operates downtown Phoenix’s underground cooling system.
The ice rink will be an annual tradition for the mixed-use shopping center, said Mike Ebert of RED Development, operator of CityScape.
“CityScape is not only the geographic center of downtown Phoenix, but we intend for it to be the heartbeat of activity in downtown, as well,” Ebert said in a press release. “It’s a place for the community to gather and we felt like an ice skating rink at the holidays is really a fun thing to share with people.”
The rink, along with the holiday tree and decorations at CityScape, will bring a sense of a “white Christmas” to the brown Arizona desert, said sophomore Christina Lund.
Lund, a journalism major from Minnesota, said she looks forward to evening skating with friends as something to do to celebrate the holidays while she is away from home.
“It brings a sense of home to such a warm place like Arizona,” Lund said. “Even though I’ve never skated before, I’m happy about the opportunity.”
Contact the reporter at mlstewa3@asu.edu
