Blitty, is Ice time really $600/hr in Cali

[tullamore]

I was at a coaches clinic today, and this one guy was speaking about how to make ice time and practice more efficient due to ice cost. He said it was $600 an hour in California, holy shit that is high.

Is that accurate.

 

[Blitty]

Sounds right. It is definitely not cheap.

 

[tullamore]

Thast unreal, its around $300 in the Boston area. I mean there are more rinks, but also more kids playing.

I remember my buddies older brother use to rent ice when I was in high school for $180/hr, it was at 11pm on thursday and we would play pick up hockey and drink beers. $10 a person covered ice and beers.

 

[Blitty]

Ya I'm pretty sure the time of day makes a difference. I've heard of people renting it out around midnight and it was more affordable then.

 

[RogueScholar]

I think that's just the nature of limited opportunities in California for rink facilities, Tully. When I was living in Portland, we had four rinks to choose from, each having at least half a dozen leagues to accomodate, and while good timeslots were hard to come by, the going rate was still between $300-$400/hr. Put simply, ice is cheaper where it's easier to maintain and where public participation is higher.

 

[tullamore]

Makes sense Scholar, I just dont see how the average families can afford ice hockey. Another guy I met today mentioned that in the Chicago area it is costing a players close to $10,000 to play hockey for the year. I coach an inner city team, they get free equipment and the ice time is paid for by corporate donations, otherwise those kids would have no chance of player. I guess I just feel fortunate that my parents were able to scrap together the money to let me play while growing up.