X

Massena Recreation wants to offer roller skate Rock-N-Skate sessions in arena after ice season

Posted 2/16/18

By CRAIG FREILICH MASSENA – The Massena Recreation Department is considering adding sessions of Rock-N-Skate with roller skates and inline skates at Massena Arena during the summer. “Right now …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Massena Recreation wants to offer roller skate Rock-N-Skate sessions in arena after ice season

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

MASSENA – The Massena Recreation Department is considering adding sessions of Rock-N-Skate with roller skates and inline skates at Massena Arena during the summer.

“Right now we’re thinking of offering the program to people without roller skates or Rollerblades,” possibly including roller hockey, said recreation director Michael McCabe.

The success of the Rock-N-Skate events on the ice, especially since they have offered skates for rent, have inspired ideas about the new program, McCabe said.

“Public ice skating has really taken off since we offered skates for rent,” McCabe said. With the rentals the typical increase in Rock-N-Skate turnout has been 30 to 40 people, a significant jump, he said.

“There’s also the revenue from rentals,” at $5, plus the $5 admission fee, not only from people in the Massena area, but also from visitors, “people visiting who didn’t bring their skates but who are looking for something to do.” It all helps in being able to offer new things like skate parties on the arena floor without ice.

As they did with ice skates, “we have put out the word for donations of slightly used roller skates and inline skates and if people want to make monetary donations, we’ll take them too,” McCabe said.

The arena has recently received an infusion of $250,000 in state aid through Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, for needed maintenance and improvements at the arena.

The most important part of the planned arena rehabilitation is “a new roof over the arena portion of the building, plus new doors at the front entrance, the side entrances, and on the locker rooms,” McCabe said.