Rink

ncredible ICE has more than lived up to its name over the past decade. Opened in 1996 as Florida's first designed twin ice skating complex, it has become one of the true success stories in the industry. Arguably one of the busiest facilities in the country, Incredible ICE is owned and operated by the NHL's Florida Panthers Hockey Club and operates 20 hours a day, 364 days a year. Known for its unique design, strategic location, creative programming and focus on "incredible" customer service, Incredible ICE has revolutionized the skating industry since its beginnings. Located in Coral Springs, Florida, between Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, it has become a hockey and figure skating center of excellence. As the official practice facility for the Florida Panthers, it is also the facility of choice for all visiting NHL teams while in South Florida. Incredible ICE draws its customer base from a wide spectrum, including multi-faceted programs that draw from all over the region. The facility boasts an impressive recreational youth and adult hockey league, along with the very competitive Florida Junior Panthers Travel Hockey Club. The Panthers Figure Skating Club makes its home at Incredible ICE and has evolved into a thriving year-round club. With world and Olympic-class coaches and competitors, figure skating continues to grow year after year. "Club incredible" happens every weekend throughout the year and attracts thousands of skaters to open public sessions and is a great way to beat the heat! A 16-foot video wall plays the latest videos while parents can relax upstairs at Breakaway Bar & Grill. Incredible ICE, recognized as a world- class facility, has not gone unnoticed within the ice industry and beyond. It has been featured prominently over the years, including: • Named one of the top facilities with excellent figure skating programs in the nation (Forbes Magazine, October 2007) • Named one of the 10 great places to skate in the nation (USA Today, Feb 2006) • Named one of the coolest rinks in America (USA Hockey Magazine, April 2004) • Recipient of Excellence in Training Award, Special Olympics Florida, July 2004 • Host site, USA Hockey Youth National Championships, April 2002 • Host site, Sunshine State Figure Skating Championships, 2004-2009 • Featured in Athletic Business Magazine, Nov. 1998 Looking back, the past decade has been full of incredible accomplishments, but the future is just as exciting, with the announcement earlier this year of a state- of-the-art expansion that will take place over the coming months. Incredible ICE will join only a handful of facilities in the country with three ice surfaces, and will be the first in the southeastern United States. Scheduled to open early in 2009, this new 50,000-square-foot addition will include a third NHL-size ice surface with four additional locker rooms and a 15,000-square-foot training facility for the Florida Panthers. Ultimately, the building will be approximately 125,000 square feet. New programming will include curling, college hockey, sled hockey and high school hockey night. Florida has never been so … cool! ★ Jeff Campol is the Vice President/General Manager of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment. 16 R INK MAGAZ INE may/June 2008 featured rink Where are they now? ■ Each issue we'll re-visit a facility that has been highlighted in a past issue as a Featured Rink. Still Incredible After All These Years! I by JEFF CAMPOL Originally featured in November/December 2001 PHOTOS COURTESY OF INCREDIBLE ICE

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