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11
February

Great Ideas for Hockey-Themed Businesses

Posted by Brett
KwikRink Synthetic Ice practice goal

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

Friends giving each other a high five a they are ice skating on the ice rink

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.”

Ski boots and ice skates on shelf

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.

Black and white photo of kid's hockey gear: helmet, stick, gloves, skates

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.

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11
December

Do You Need a Hockey Training Center in Your Town

Posted by Brett

Male Hockey player taping a hockey stickWith around half a million registered hockey players in the USA alone, and the numbers continuing to rise around the world, it is clear that hockey is a sport that is growing in popularity. The problem with this growing popularity is the increasing demand for ice time.

Practice ice time is limited, and the traditional ice hockey rink schedules are already full. Higher participation numbers also mean the tryout process is more competitive, upping the skill levels needed to make it onto any team.

A hockey training center would alleviate these problems. It can be a fantastic attribute to your local community, a sound business investment, and will help to continue to boost participation and enjoyment in an already popular sport.

Thinking that an ice arena is too big and too costly an undertaking? Think again! KwikRink Synthetic Ice provides a cost-effective and convenient alternative to natural ice that will fit any space. Contact us today to start imagining everything your training space could become.

Why ice hockey training?

Ice hockey is an exciting team sport, which is tons of fun. In addition, the training associated with hockey also boasts a wide range of health benefits and advantages for its participants.

Benefits achieved whether you are the star center for your local league or just looking for a more exciting way to stay in shape.

Enhancing communication and decision-making skills

The fast pace of the game requires speedy and accurate communication between team players. Excellent decision making and quick thinking are also needed to keep the game moving successfully. If that’s not enough, the endorphins released during exercise are also great for alleviating stress and anxiety.

Developing key reflexes

Hand-eye coordination is an important skill, and one significantly enhanced by playing hockey. Reaction times and overall balance are boosted. Reflexes, agility, and dexterity increase as well, thanks to fast-paced skating and passing drills.

Burning calories

The nature of ice hockey requires using short bursts of energy over brief periods. This quick acceleration burns an enormous number of calories in each match and training session.

Each player burns around 0.061 calories per pound per minute – a fantastic way to lose weight and stay in serious shape over an extended period! The skating and drills used in ice hockey training are similar to interval training, burning more calories and boosting metabolism.

Offering a full-body workout

Hockey is one of the best ways to provide a full-body workout.

It exercises all areas of the legs, such as hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves from the skating. Shoulder muscles, forearms, and triceps develop as well from the stick handling.

The sport can also improve bone strength, strengthen connective tissues, and increase your muscle mass, leading to a reduced risk of injury and better overall health.

Boosting the cardiovascular system

A healthy cardiovascular system

  • delivers more oxygen to your brain and muscles helping them to function more efficiently at all times,
  • stimulates the production of enzymes converting the food you eat into energy your cells can use, and
  • decreases your risk for other chronic illnesses.

Hockey develops muscular strength and boosts energy levels and stamina, helping to improve cardiovascular function in the long run.

Why a synthetic ice hockey training center?

As you can see, there are quite a few benefits that come from playing and training for ice hockey. The problem yet to be resolved, though, is the limited amount of space and time available for this training.

Hockey team members, as well as individuals with an interest in the sport, or those with a desire to reap the benefits of hockey training, will flock to a hockey training center. A unique business offering, a training center allows you to appeal to youth teams, adult leagues, and those looking for a new approach to fitness.

Traditional ice arenas can require massive amounts of space, are expensive to install, and costly to maintain. Synthetic ice offers a creative, cost-effective solution to each of these issues that can help to bring your business venture plans to life.

Fully customizable for smaller spaces

Unlike a natural ice rink, lubricated panels are tailored to your exact specifications, making it perfect for whatever shape and space you have available.

This customization means you are not restricted to full-sized hockey rinks but can create separate drill areas, resistance training spots, and other essential training sections for a comprehensive on-ice experience.

Lower capital investment

Synthetic ice is suitable for any climate and therefore does not require temperature-controlled enclosures during the warmer months or massive refrigeration systems to start. Fewer structural requirements and less equipment, mean lower initial capital outlay.

Lower operating costs

Melting ice requires frequent resurfacing with large pieces of specialized equipment. Underlying refrigeration systems often require annual shutdown periods for maintenance and repair.

However, self-lubricating synthetic ice panels do not require any type of resurfacing. The latest technology even eliminates the need for topical sprays. The only maintenance required is an occasional sweeping and mopping.

Designed to withstand professional hockey training regimens, these panels are resilient for up to a decade. This longevity will allow your business sufficient time to recover the initial investment before needing to schedule capital expenditures for typical wear and tear.

You need a hockey training center in your town

Full-scale ice hockey rinks are limited to the number of hours they have available for training and games. Most require annual shutdowns for maintenance as well, even further limiting their availability.

In the meantime, hockey participation rates continue to climb. There is a growing interest level at all age and skill levels. Even those with a casual interest in hockey, but looking for a fresh way to keep up with a physical fitness routine, are looking for spaces to train.

A new hockey training center would provide the solution. One utilizing synthetic ice with no required resurfacing, low maintenance, and material longevity would lead to lower on-going operating costs, resulting in higher profit margins.

Here at KwikRink, we have everything you need to start making your hockey training center a profitable reality. Get in touch today for a consultation and take your first steps towards that lucrative business venture!

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15
November

The Latest Trend in Hockey Training Centers

Posted by KwikRink
Latest Trend in Hockey Training Centers 1

Hockey is enjoying a boom in recent years. The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) reports that in the 18 states and the District of Columbia that play under NFHS rules, hockey participation is up from 44,669 players in 2017, to 44,933 players last year.

A surge in girls’ hockey programs since 2013 has resulted in record-setting female participation in the sport.  With more players of all ages and demographics seeking ice time, rink design that’s versatile, efficient, and flexible is a necessity for new and existing hockey programs alike.

The business-savvy synthetic ice rink costs from KwikRink Synthetic Ice make your hockey programming and business goals easily attainable. Call us today to begin custom-designing your state-of-the-art synthetic rink.

Synthetic Ice: a flexible alternative

Natural ice may have been the preferred hockey playing surface for generations, but synthetic ice allows for the exponential expansion of playing and practicing opportunities with a superior business model.

If you’re in a region where the weather is warm most of the year, a natural ice rink could be cost-prohibitive and environmentally taxing.

Regardless of the climate outside, indoor natural ice center owners must expend significant funds on creating the rink surface, as well as flooding, and freezing systems. They also must maintain the ice after freezing. That means extra dollars for Zambonis and the staff to run them.

Synthetic ice offers a lower-cost and low-maintenance alternative to spendy indoor natural ice arenas. Custom-cut ice tiles lock together like puzzle pieces and boast easy clean-up and glide maintenance with simple spray cleaners and a wipe-down with a soft cloth.

With KwikRink Synthetic Ice, you can leave your ice rink set up for hockey and other ice sports 100 percent of the time, or you can place and remove your rink with ease for other recreational or community programming in your arena space.

Further, with synthetic ice, hockey entrepreneurs can opt for a non-traditional arena location, like converted warehouse space, community centers, gymnasiums, or other large multi-purpose venues.

Synthetic ice and natural ice quality match

Synthetic ice technology has undergone a revolution in the last decade. With new materials that eliminate the need for extra blade lubrication, skaters can lace up and go, just like on a natural rink.

As long as you maintain a clean skating surface, skater glide for hockey and other ice sports (like broomball, figure skating, and pleasure skating) is nearly identical to natural ice.

Skaters can sprint, stop, turn, shoot, and check on KwikRink Synthetic Ice just as they do on natural ice.

The small differential in glide between synthetic ice and a natural skating surface also creates a training effect in hockey players. Skaters will push off, stop, and turn with a slightly stronger muscular power stroke on synthetic ice, which develops more strength and stamina.

If and when a player has practice or a game on a natural rink after training on synthetic ice, their performance and experience will improve.

It’s a similar phenomenon to Olympic athletes who train at high altitude and compete at low altitude–they’ve got an edge over their competition because of their high-altitude physical adaptations.

More skaters, more ice demand

Skating of all kinds is emerging as a growing recreational activity, according to Grand View Research. Families with increased disposable income are looking toward ice skating as a fun and different way to hang out together, enjoy team dynamics, and compete with others.

Even though seasonal outdoor rinks in colder climes are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, their use is limited to a few months of the year. Indoor arenas are weather-independent and remain open and potentially profitable year-round.

Synthetic rinks make excellent business sense, especially for owners and managers of multi-use facilities.

Lower overhead, higher ROI

When a program director can assemble a rink of any size in minutes with no freezing time, she can run a hockey team practice for an hour a few times per week. When a practice is over, the rink comes apart, stacks, and stores for the next programmatic demand.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice tiles come apart and stack easily in an equipment closet or the corner of your programmed space. Throw a cover over the stacked tiles to keep them dust-free and gliding well each week.

Our highest quality ice tiles last up to 10 years when properly cleaned, so once you’ve invested your start-up capital in the tiles, there’s little extra cost to keeping a superior skating service for years of team registrations.

It’s easy to conclude that the ROI on a quality synthetic ice rink outranks that of natural ice. If your hockey program overhead is lower, it may also offer you more flexibility on the program fees you’ll charge in your market.

This flexibility could make your program accessible to a wider cross-section of players who may not otherwise have tried the sport. Growing your hockey audience by making the sport more accessible to different players creates a reliable revenue stream in uncharted hockey territory.

Expand your synthetic ice rink revenue with additional services

When you’ve opened your KwikRink Synthetic Ice rink, you have expanded opportunities for revenue. With hockey and other ice sports forecasted to grow in participation, opening a hockey program or arena makes sound business sense.

Providing skate rental, private and group lessons, other skating activities like open skating, figure skating, and broomball leagues add to your profit while keeping customers engaged and confident in their developing skating skills.

Your creativity and the people on your team have the freedom to innovate new ice programming as the seasons roll by. Chances to cater to your hockey parents while their kids’ skate, parties and events, and other community engagement tools offer still more revenue streams to your growing hockey empire.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice: Your partner in custom rink design

Whether you’re building a regulation ice arena pad from the ground up, or re-purposing a multi-use space, KwikRink is your partner in creating the custom synthetic ice rink that meets your business needs. Call us today to begin planning the rink of your future.

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09
October

Hockey Is On the Way Up

Posted by KwikRink
Man wearing a blue suit, red striped tie, red hockey gloves and red helmet, holding a hcokey stick.

Whether you live in snow country or tropical climes, hockey is everywhere these days. NHL fandom is robust as always, and safety gear innovations keep kids and adults playing injury-free for longer. Hockey parents are still the norm from Minnesota to Texas.

Despite our changing climate affecting outdoor ice seasons, hockey is here to stay. To that end, the hockey industry always promotes ways to stay ahead of the curve in terms of ice costs and program revenue.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice is the leader in maintenance-free, state-of-the-art synthetic hockey ice rink design. Contact us today and get a free custom rink quote for any space or application.

Women players, women winners

According to The Ice Garden, women’s hockey participation has grown by a whopping 17.6% since 2010. Nearly 80,000 women are registered players with USA Hockey. And, that number has steadily increased since the US women’s gold medal win at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

Women continue to add depth and breadth to the sport and have proven they can play every bit as tough as the guys and come out on top.

At Kwikrink, we’re excited to be part of serving the growing demand for ice time from female players. We continue to champion hockey programming for all.

Our synthetic hockey ice systems make program launch and participation more accessible and more profitable for community organizations and coaches alike. Here’s how.

Benefits of Synthetic ice over natural ice

Versatility: Kwikrink Synthetic Ice can be set up anywhere in just about any dimension. All you need is a flat surface. Our ice works well in the following locations:

    • Church social gathering rooms
    • Event centers
    • School gyms and cafeterias
    • College field houses
    • Community center multipurpose rooms and gyms
    • Convention centers
    • Outdoor skate parks or basketball courts

Non-weather dependent. Synthetic Ice glides, whether it’s -40 degrees or 85 degrees. Your rink space never has to be climate controlled with Kwikrink synthetic ice. Though a little air conditioning might be helpful if you’re running a full-on team practice in hot weather!

Further, there’s no need for a built-in, floor-based water freezing system with KwikRink materials. You’ll simply lock the ice tiles into place, strap on your skates, and glide for as long as you want.

Lower cost. Since our synthetic ice needs no additional equipment to keep it functional, your hockey program overhead costs just dropped significantly.

When you factor in the initial capital of freezing equipment, Zamboni and driver, as well as the maintenance and added energy costs to maintain natural ice, synthetic ice is a no-brainer to improve your hockey program profit margins and registration accessibility dramatically.

Low maintenance. Our infused surfaces promise years of low-maintenance, superior glide, and a clean surface guarantees the best performance.

Your cleaning schedule will depend on ice usage frequency, storage location and condition, and environmental factors. In other words, if your synthetic rink is outside, you’ll likely clean it more often for optimal performance.

Cleaning KwikRink Synthetic Ice is a breeze. Spray the surface with a multipurpose cleaning solution, let sit for a few minutes to break up any dirt buildup, and then wipe clean with a cloth. No Zamboni required, although you might want to use a small commercial floor scrubber on larger rinks.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice boasts 95% of natural ice glide. KwikRink Synthetic Hockey Ice boasts a comparable rate of glide to natural ice. You can work on all the sprints, stops, turns, and shots-on-goal that you would on a natural surface, with a nearly imperceptible difference in feel.

Strength and stamina gains. Because there is a slight glide differential from synthetic to natural ice, your team will develop more strength and stamina on the synthetic surface.

Similar to Olympic athletes training at high altitudes, our systems may help your team perform better when they play on natural ice from time to time.

Synthetic Ice: A profitable choice for “dead” space

If you run a large facility like a church, community center, warehouse, senior center, or athletic facility, you’ve likely got “dead” space from time to time. A synthetic hockey rink may add a revenue stream to unused floor space.

Our ice tiles are fully adaptable to your space availability and dimensions. Plus, our tiles feature a “snap-together” design.

Set up and tear-down are quick and manageable. Our tiles will store in any closet or even stacked on the perimeter of your space for easy program conversion.

You can easily convert from basketball practice to a hockey game or clinic in one evening or afternoon with synthetic hockey ice from KwikRink.

Profitability

Synthetic hockey ice provides a speedy avenue to revenue, especially if you live in a hockey-friendly community, or if you’re pioneering a hockey program in a new region.

With the easy set-up and versatility of KwikRink synthetic ice, all you need is a coach and a few players to build a team and some hockey momentum. Since equipment logistics are a no-brainer, you can utilize your business acumen by spreading the word and marketing a new youth or adult sports opportunity.

Our tiles travel and snap together effortlessly in small locations. That makes them great for community demos, school visits, mall expos, or neighborhood gatherings to build buzz and allow potential hockey players to try out the ice.

With a qualified coach and a simple online registration system, you can effortlessly collect fees and waivers, then move on to promoting teamwork, health, fitness, and hockey fun in no time.

Fundraisers, special events, and corporate entertainment with synthetic hockey ice lend further revenue stream opportunities to your organization. All you need is a flat space and a pair of skates to make the event a success.

Contact KwikRink Synthetic Ice for hockey in a snap

Our team stands ready to help you build the custom synthetic ice hockey rink that fits perfectly for your programming and space needs. Give us a call today, and we’ll help you measure and craft the ice your community will enjoy for many seasons to come.

Great hockey can happen anywhere, anytime with KwikRink Synthetic Ice systems.

 

 

 

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