Hockey has steadily been gaining popularity among people of all ages in the last several years. This increase in demand has led to many opportunities for new hockey businesses.
KwikRink Synthetic Ice rinks do not require a lot of space, maintenance, money, or time. Synthetic ice is not affected by weather or temperature, and best of all, no Zamboni needed!
If you are passionate about hockey and wish there was a way you could build that passion into a business, check out the ideas below. Then contact KwikRink Synthetic Ice to get started on your custom rink today.
Starting a new business
Take it to the students
Schools are always looking for ways to expand their physical education curriculum while staying within their budget. You could offer to set up and rent rinks to schools throughout your area.
Students would have an opportunity to try something possibly new to them right within their own walls. Avoid the logistic nightmare coordinating a field trip to a local ice rink, no lost time from other classes, and an excellent way to get some exercise.
Gym floors are an ideal place to set up a synthetic rink because they are large and flat. KwikRink hockey tiles piece together like a jigsaw puzzle so you can easily set the rink and then take it away when the program is finished.
Most Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) have money in their budget for special activities like this. When you reach out to the school, you could reach out to the PTO at the same time.
Before and after-school programs are also always looking for ways to keep students engaged. Physical education, before and after-school programs, or special events by PTOs, could all tap into one rink for a high utilization rate across multiple expense streams — always a good selling point.
Off-Season Camps
Nothing worse than having your outdoor hockey season cut short by an unusually warm winter. Or maybe there’s a business opportunity there — one that uses synthetic ice that is not affected by temperature extremes and doesn’t require a massive indoor refrigeration system.
KwikRink Synthetic Ice can be used any time of year, not just during hockey season. A true hockey enthusiast never wants to stop skating and is always looking for ways to improve.
Week-long, half-day, and full-day camps are getting so popular in the summer that most have waiting lists by March. Open a hockey training camp, indoor or out with synthetic ice hockey tiles. There are plenty of opportunities to make a place in this market.
Recreational leagues
Men, women, boys, and girls all enjoy hockey. This diverse customer base allows you to set up a wide variety of leagues.
First, figure out a location – all you need is a flat surface. Your KwikRink can be custom designed to the space you have available. Think empty retail or warehouse space.
If you don’t want to invest in something quite so permanent, check to see if you could partner with a local park or community center to set up your rink and host recreational leagues for a month or more.
Registration fees are the main income source for this type of program. Keep reading to find out some other ways you could generate income from a hockey-based business.
Expanding your existing business
Do you already have a hockey rink and want to expand it? The ideas below may get you thinking “outside the rink.”
Skate rental
Second-hand sports stores, thrift stores, and neighborhood groups are a great resource to find used ice skates. You can build a collection of them and rent them to patrons of your rink. These rentals would give more people the ability to use the rink because not everyone has skates.
Skate Sharpening
Having skate sharpening available at your rink allows your customers to use your service rather than have to go to a specialty shop to get it done. On-site sharpening is a benefit to you and the customer as it keeps the business in house.
Snack stand
Being on the ice works up an appetite. Watching your kids skate for hours does as well. Setting up a snack bar would be a way to keep your customers fed while you make some extra money.
Hockey Accessories
Tape frays, skate guards get lost, and mouth guards seemingly get eaten by something. These can put the game into a deep freeze for some players. If you have a place at your rink where they could get these accessories and others, the game can continue.
Used Equipment Consignment
People outgrow or upgrade equipment regularly, and not everyone can buy new. Setting up a consignment corner is a great way to keep the game going. The seller makes a profit, you make a commission, and the buyer gets a deal. The best part about this is that you need minimal space to make this work.
Open Skate Time
Take advantage of your rink and the people in your area who want to skate for fun by offering open skate times. For an admission price, people could skate for a few hours without hockey going on.
Small Practice Space
Becoming a better hockey player doesn’t happen only during the games. There are plenty of small space drills that can be done and don’t require a full sheet of ice. Add small practice areas to your business with synthetic ice.
KwikRink can customize hockey tiles to any space. This space could be rented out for an additional fee or offered as a way to make your business stand out from the others.
You could use these small areas as a place for you to give demonstrations, or for your customers to try out some of those great hockey accessories you might have for sale.
Build on your passion
Whether you have a permanent place to set up your rink or have made it mobile, synthetic ice gives you a cost-effective way to build a business around your passion.
Use KwikRink Synthetic Ice indoors and outdoors, no matter what time of year, with minimal maintenance. Check out our gallery for some great ideas of how and where you can put a synthetic ice rink to good use for your business.
