How much for a sheet of ice for an hour?

AgnesNitt · December 20, 2011, 08:16:29 PM

A lady at my rink told me that the rink desk had told her to rent a sheet of ice for an hour was $1000. I was shocked. At my last rink it was $250. Even allowing for inflation, it should only be $300. I think they were trying to screw her over.

What's a sheet per hour at your rink?

Harleyboy · December 20, 2011, 08:35:12 PM

$140.00 for off-time (mornings & late night)
$230.00 for prime time (afternoons & weekends)

Both rinks are the same price, nobody can get a deal. (Although I am keeping an eye on those hockey dudes that carry candy & flowers into the rink office. Maybe they know something we don't know)

Skittl1321 · December 20, 2011, 08:40:29 PM

Our rink does not advertise a price, but all the different ones I've seen are in the $200-300 range depending on the time.

Maybe she wanted a time.that is traditionally held by someone else. When hockey bought the synchro time out from under us they had to pay a lot more, since the rink had to do something to make us happy. (we got crap ice time for free)

techskater · December 20, 2011, 09:13:58 PM

Mostly the rinks around here are $265 to $340 per hour for prime time ice. If you are lucky, you can catch a special at one rink for $100 or $150

sarahspins · December 20, 2011, 09:20:50 PM

Ours doesn't advertise the price, but I know that any unused morning ice is only $100/hr at our rink (anything available between freestyle and public, employees already present and being paid regardless).. I'm not sure what prime time ice goes for or what the fee is for a large group (I think it's hourly + per person to cover the rental counter and COD or skate guards) but I actually think it's very reasonable, considering what I've seen charged elsewhere.

MimiG · December 20, 2011, 09:43:57 PM

Maybe a miscommunication and they were quoting for a several weeks' worth of ice, as in booking that hour long slot for an 8 week session, or whatever?

SynchKat · December 20, 2011, 10:28:26 PM

Wow that is nuts! The rink I skate an hour would cost $205 (plus tax). This is a private club though so the general public doesn't get access to this rink. Regular rinks run about $300or $350.

Sk8tmum · December 20, 2011, 11:19:42 PM

$110 non prime time, $185 prime time. Canadian.

Maybe the $1,000 includes rink rats/the zamboni guy? We have to pay swimming pool cost plus lifeguards to rent ... unionized ... no lifeguards, no pool ...

twokidsskatemom · December 21, 2011, 02:56:31 AM

Quote from: Ha &)eyboy on December 20, 2011, 08:35:12 PM
$140.00 for off-time (mornings & late night)
$230.00 for prime time (afternoons & weekends)

Both rinks are the same price, nobody can get a deal. (Although I am keeping an eye on those hockey dudes that carry candy & flowers into the rink office. Maybe they know something we don't know)

The other rink is much cheaper, but not as nice.Where we are at most of the time is more, but when you factor in the free ice time they give us really ends up cheaper.
And we always give them coffee gifts cards... the cost of doing business &)

sk8tegirl06 · December 21, 2011, 03:38:09 AM

Quote from: Sk8tmum on December 20, 2011, 11:19:42 PM
$110 non prime time, $185 prime time. Canadian.

Maybe the $1,000 includes rink rats/the zamboni guy? We have to pay swimming pool cost plus lifeguards to rent ... unionized ... no lifeguards, no pool ...

Even with skate guards and zamboni drivers, it wouldn't be nearly that much....the rink I worked at was in the $200-300 range per hour plus maybe an extra $50-100? for guards (number of guards depended on number of people attending the event) and zamboni drivers. I mean unless you are paying for the ice time plus guards and zamboni drivers plus admissions and skate rentals for everyone participating in the ice rental (would have to be ~50+ people skating, at least in my area), I'm not really sure how else you could come up with $1,000 price tag.

Query · December 21, 2011, 07:33:28 AM

Agnes, I may be wrong, but think the two cheapest ice rental rates for indoor rinks in the DC Metro area are Bowie and Fort Dupont. (I'm not sure about Dale City or Piney Orchard.) If I remember right Bowie was around $250/hr, but you'd have to call.

A lot of rinks offer cheaper rates after hours (e.g., after they normally close). Maybe she can try then?

Unfortunately, in VA, there aren't all that many rinks, and traffic is very bad, giving them a captive market, so they can charge what they like. Reston has some daytime freestyle sessions where almost no one skates - maybe worth a check. And Piney Orchard and Bowie (maybe others too?) have some early morning freestyles and daytime publics that are sometimes empty.

All everyone really needs is a rink of their own.

Which rink was it? I wasn't aware anything in the area would charge $1000. I'd heard of $350 at one of the more expensive rinks, but... Maybe she wanted something on short notice, so they would have had to cancel something else.

karne · December 21, 2011, 05:40:17 PM

Ours is $300 off-peak, and $325 on, but on-peak you can only hire it between 4pm and 8pm on Saturday.

(Yes, weird rink).

So when we have a competition, the association has to fork out $1300 to hire the ice if we get a full field.

nicklaszlo · December 21, 2011, 08:53:12 PM

Studio $145/hour, main $310/hour. After 11:30 PM, studio $100/hour, main $220/hour.

PinkLaces · December 21, 2011, 09:08:37 PM

$140 for off-peak - before 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. $200 for all other times.

Rachelsk8s · December 23, 2011, 06:26:33 PM

WOW!!! That is a lot of money!!! I mean I know that it probably depends upon where you live, but that sounds like an error!!! Most rinks around here charge around $200 per 50 minutes.

AgnesNitt · December 23, 2011, 06:50:53 PM

Yeah, the only thing I can think is that a. They were ripping her off, or b. She wanted ice during one of the stick and puck times.

Query · December 25, 2011, 09:06:19 AM

Maybe the person at the front desk was only guessing, and isn't involved with ice rental.

Without full information, I can imagine a number of expensive situations.

Maybe it was a party, and she wanted a bevy of coaches, food and child care for two hundred screaming kiddies, a private photographer, and a DJ!

twokidsskatemom · December 25, 2011, 11:16:15 PM

I know the Subway rink in Anchorage is 400.00, and so is the rink in North Pole.I have never heard of 1000.00!

AgnesNitt · January 04, 2012, 06:21:05 PM

It turned out she wanted to rent the rink at a time that was already filled. She got it down to $300 by putting the party off until Easter.

Query · January 05, 2012, 12:35:41 PM

I think that maintaining an ice rink at the Geographic north pole would be difficult. (-:

I guess that isn't what twokidsskatemom means.

Clarice · January 05, 2012, 01:21:21 PM

On Christmas Eve, I got it for $12! I was the only one who wanted to use the 6 a.m. freestyle, I guess. Seriously, ours is normally $260.

twokidsskatemom · January 05, 2012, 10:21:14 PM

Quote from: Query on January 05, 2012, 12:35:41 PM
I think that maintaining an ice rink at the Geographic north pole would be difficult. (-:

I guess that isn't what twokidsskatemom means.

The arctic circle is 150 miles miles from us, but we do really live in North Pole Alaska

Finallyskating · February 26, 2012, 09:59:37 AM

I'm confused, that's what you pay an hr to practice!!!
I just practice during the day at public skating, only 2-3 skaters on the ice, and I pay $9.00

Query · February 26, 2012, 10:09:43 AM

Why is Alaskan ice so expensive?

VAsk8r · February 26, 2012, 02:22:48 PM

At my rink in Virginia, it's $300 an hour but they give figure skating and hockey a discounted price of $250/hour. That's the absolute lowest they'll go, and they won't let us buy "prime time" like Friday night public.

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How much for a sheet of ice for an hour?