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ImOn Ice Arena reopening Saturday
Free skate will kick things off, other events coming in October
Severe damage is seen to the corner of the ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 11, 2020, after the derecho hit Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities. The arena is set to reopen Saturday. (The Gazette)
CEDAR RAPIDS — The ImOn Ice Arena had some difficult times in 2020.
It closed on March 17 because of the pandemic. Then, to add insult to injury, the derecho hit on Aug. 10, devastating homes, businesses and landmarks like Veterans Memorial Stadium and the ice arena.
The back wall of the arena’s Olympic and community rink collapsed.
In addition, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders announced on Sept. 2020 they would not participate in the 2020-2021 United States Hockey League season because of the pandemic and damage to their home ice.
Now, the arena is set to reopen to the public. A “grand reopening celebration” will take place Saturday, with free admission and skate rental. The skate rental opens at 1:45 p.m.
“We opened the RoughRiders rink in March 2021,” director of events Tonya Frost said. “Then we closed that one down and opened the community rink so the construction workers could fix it up.
“It will have been an entire year-and-a-half since we have had two fully functional rinks by the time we reopen again to the public.”
Frost is excited about the RoughRiders’ return, but also some other events the arena will host, like a Zamboni class on Oct. 23. Participants can get a behind-the-scenes look at ice maintenance and learn how to drive a Zamboni. Registration is $100 and you must be registered by Oct. 20. Only 25 spots are available.
The arena also is hosting “Learn How to Curl” instructional leagues throughout the hockey season.
The RoughRiders — who got an upgraded sound system, new lights and extra seating inside the arena — have a home-opener against the Des Moines Buccaneers scheduled for Oct. 16.
