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Opening ADDRESS Welcome from Jeff Theiler THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES ICE RINK ASSOCIATION MARCH/APRIL 2024 // VOL. 27, NO. 2 USICERINKS.COM // INFO@USICERINKS.COM C E O Laura McEwen C H A I R M A N 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 A T I V E D I R E C T O R Rob Johnson A R T D I R E C T O R S Mike DeArmond, Brandon Favre D E S I G N E R S Taylor McCumber, Sydney Urban A D S A L E S Bryan Nelson V I C E P R E S I D E N T, M A R K E T I N G & C L I E N T S T R A T E G Y Jessica Disch E D I T O R Aaron Paitich C O N T E N T W R I T E R Emily Sizen A D C O O R D I N A T O R Samantha Canter 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 1601 Utica Avenue South, Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN 55416 P H : (763) 595-0808 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 A T I N G O F F I C E R Jeff Theiler D I R E C T O R , E D U C A T I O N John Monteleone P H : ( 719 ) 538-1149 F A X : (719) 538-7838 E - M A I L : info@usicerinks.com W E B S I T E : usicerinks.com A P A R T N E R W I T H E D I T O R Aaron Paitich C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S Mike Bauer, Jessi Pierce, Jeff Theiler, Heather Van Hulle E D I T O R I A L B O A R D Barbara Bogner, Rockne Brubaker, T.C. Lewis, Susi Wehrli McLaughlin, John Monteleone, Rory Mushlin, Craig Petersen, Jeff Theiler D E S I G N E R S Mike DeArmond, Brandon Favre, Taylor McCumber, Sydney Urban 14 / MARCH.APRIL.2024 USICERINKS.COM A friend of mine I played junior hockey with called me the other day to catch up. He has been coaching youth travel hockey teams for years and his teams regularly play at rinks around the coun- try. During our conversation, he told me about a rink his team had recently played at. Below are a few of the things he saw at this rink: • Garbage cans were overflowing in the parking lot, lobby, and public restrooms. • There was an overpowering aroma of "rink stink" throughout the facility. • Numerous dried up beverage spills on the floors. • Puck marks and holes in walls all around the facility. • Toilet partition doors that wouldn't close or lock, and a urinal wrapped in a trash bag. • Multiple burned out light bulbs over the ice surface and spectator seating. • Shower heads broken off in the dressing room his team used. • Ice that was so thick and cloudy that he could barely see the hockey markings. • Dasher board shielding with so many puck marks that he could barely see through it. • Three pieces of plywood in the place of broken pieces of dasher board shielding. I wasn't surprised when he told me this, I was disappointed. Many of the rinks that I've been to over the last few years have been very similar to the one my friend visited; not very clean, nor well maintained, with staff that were either unpleasant or nowhere to be found. I understand that many rinks are facing challenges, but first impressions may determine whether or not new customers become repeat customers. I know from my own experience operat- ing rinks, that it doesn't take a lot of money to stay on top of cleaning and performing routine building, equip- ment, and ice maintenance. What it does take is effort, a positive mindset, and a commitment to do all the little things that are necessary to ensure that every customer enjoys their time at the rink. I learned a long time ago that we don't just sell ice time, we are in the business of creating and selling experi- ences. The condition of your rink has an impact on whether those experiences are positive or negative. If your rink could use a little TLC, there is no better time than now to get started. I wish you and yours the best this spring. — Jeff Theiler, Chief Operating Officer, United States Ice Rink Association Raise the Bar Is your rink making a good first impression?