Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1268579
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES ICE RINK ASSOCIATION JULY/AUGUST 2020 // VOL. 23, NO. 4 USICERINKS.COM // INFO@USICERINKS.COM C E O Steve Farbman P R E S I D E N T James McEwen S E N I O R V I C E P R E S I D E N T David Jensen C O N T R O L L E R Mike Schwarz C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R Rob Johnson A RT D I R E C T O R Mike DeArmond S E N I O R D E S I G N E R Brandon Favre D E S I G N E R S Kelsey Cherwinka, Melanie Schumacher A D S A L E S Bryan Nelson M A R K E T I N G & AC C O U N T M A NAG E R Jessica Disch E D I T O R S : Aaron Paitich, Jessi Pierce M A R K E T I N G C O O R D I NAT O R Elizabeth Boger RINK Magazine is the definitive business publication for professionals in the ice rink industry and is the leading source for information on facility management, operations and programming. PUBLISHING PARTNER 505 North Highway 169, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55441 P H : (763) 595-0808 FA X : (763) 595-0016 E - M A I L : info@touchpointmedia.com W E B S I T E : touchpointmedia.com Mission: "To advance the ice rink industry through membership, world-class education, training, resources and events." C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R Jeff Theiler D I R E C T O R , E D U CAT I O N John Monteleone O F F I C E A S S I S T A N T Tom Wacker P H : ( 719) 538-1149 FA X : (719) 538-7838 E - M A I L : info@usicerinks.com W E B S I T E : usicerinks.com A P R O G R A M O F E D I T O R Aaron Paitich M A NAG I N G E D I T O R Jessi Pierce C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S Mark Bradley, Erika Lehman, John Monteleone, Craig Petersen, Jeff Theiler, Ryan Williamson, Brad Wilkins E D I T O R I A L B OA R D T.C. Lewis, Craig Petersen D E S I G N E R S Mike DeArmond, Brandon Favre, Kelsey Cherwinka, Melanie Schumacher Opening ADDRESS Welcome from Jeff Theiler 14 / JULY.AUGUST.2020 USICERINKS.COM Take the time to put together a thorough re-opening plan that focuses on the safety and health of your staff and customers. Re-open accordingly and we will be better come Fall/Winter 2020 has been a tough year so far to say the least. With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on our personal and professional lives for four months and counting. Not to mention, the civil unrest that has taken over every front page and news site in recent weeks, it will certainly be nice to get back to some sense of normalcy by the end of the summer. Since the last issue of RINK, which included our section of the 'Returning to the Rinks' re-opening recommendations article, we have received numerous inquiries from ice rink industry folks requesting additional guidance for re-opening their rinks for skating and hockey programs. Our advice is the same today as it was back in early May when the article was released: 1. Pay close attention to your local government's re-opening guidelines and follow them. If those guidelines aren't clear, then contact your local health department to get clarification. Opening your rink before it is allowed puts your business at risk of being shut down by the health department, leading to bad publicity and significant fines. 2. When your rink is allowed to re-open, don't open just to open. Analyze whether it makes financial sense to do so. Can you generate enough revenue with limited programming to cover the cost of being open? Or, will you minimize losses by being closed for a little while longer? 3. Take the time to put together a thorough re-opening plan that focuses on the safety and health of your staff and customers. Re-training your staff and ensuring that they enforce and follow new policies and procedures will be vital in executing a successful re-opening. 4. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Use all of your available marketing channels (website, social media, digital & print ads, automated phone system, etc.) to let everyone in your community know your rink is open and what policies and procedures you've put in place to ensure their safety. You might call me crazy, but I am confident that our industry will be stronger having made it through all of the adversity we have faced by the time the Fall/ Winter season starts. I hope you enjoy this issue of RINK and have a safe and healthy summer! — Jeff Theiler, Chief Operating Officer, United States Ice Rink Association Let's Come Back Stronger