Rod Gilbert, all-time leading scorer for The New York Rangers
Paul Lloyd, President of U.S.A. Hockey, Eastern Division
Erik Ekstein, Founder and President of Ekstein Development
The groundbreaking press event on July 17th celebrated the kick-off of construction.
City Ice Pavilion to offer figure skating, hockey to borough rooftop
"Like most kids who grew up here, I'd have had a better chance learning to fly an airplane than ice skate," he said.
The rink, two blocks from the No. 7 train on Queens Boulevard, will open in October and close for the season in April, said Jill Feldman, a City Ice Pavilion spokeswoman. At full capacity, the rink can hold 500 skaters.
The rink, which meets National Hockey League standards in its size, will feature a number of classes, including ice and figure skating, as well as youth and adult hockey leagues, Feldman said.
Attendees who bring their own skates will only pay $5 to use the rink, while borough students will be able to take free skating classes after school Mondays and Wednesdays, she said. The pavilion will also house a gourmet coffee bar.
The 85-foot-by-200-foot rink, which will shelter visitors from winter weather under a large air dome, will also have on-site parking. The pavilion's staff will include former and current professional hockey players.
The borough's only other ice skating rink is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.