The U of I Ice Arena is managed by Campus Recreation, and hosts a wide range of programming for students and the public. It’s open for the duration of the U of I academic year. One of the most popular is public skates. In an area that never stays quite cold enough for outdoor skating, this is the one opportunity to try out the ice. It’s been a frequent winter activity for our family throughout years.
Public skates are typically on Wednesday and Friday (except when there is a hockey game) evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Students and Campus Rec members skate for free, otherwise it’s $6 for the public. Kids ages three and under are free. Passes are also available for individuals and families.
Matt paid a visit to the ice arena a few weeks ago to chat with some of the patrons.