Center Ice Sports Complex

What Center Ice Sports Complex does

Center Ice Sports Complex is a privately-held, year-round ice sports facility located at 8319 Port Jackson Ave NW in North Canton (Jackson Township), Ohio, serving the Stark County community since 1999. It operates a single NHL-sized rink (200' x 85') and delivers a broad programming stack spanning Learn to Skate classes, youth and adult hockey (Learn to Play Hockey, CAHA-affiliated competitive youth hockey, adult leagues, drop-in and stick time), figure skating (accelerated program and affiliated Center Ice Skating Club), public open skate, broomball, and birthday party packages. Ancillary revenue lines include a full-service hockey pro shop, on-site cafe and arcade, and local business sponsorships.

The underlying technology is primarily physical — a refrigerated ice rink with supporting amenities (cafe, arcade, pro shop, meeting rooms) — augmented by a self-serve online registration platform (FinnlyConnect) for open skate reservations, class enrollment, and party bookings. The business runs a community-led, direct-to-consumer go-to-market: walk-in traffic for casual visitors, registration for structured programs, and grassroots partnerships with youth hockey associations, skating clubs, YMCA Stark, schools, and Akron University Hockey Club.

Revenue is generated through five streams: subscription/recurring program fees (Learn to Skate, Accelerated Figure Skating and Hockey at $90-$230 per session), usage-based admissions and skate rental ($13 admission + $4 rental for open skate), one-time birthday party and group event packages ($350 base for up to 10 skaters), hardware sales through the pro shop, and local advertising/sponsorships. The Center Ice Foundation (501(c)(3), established 2015) provides an adjacent charitable funding layer supporting designated teams and programs. Leadership comprises General Manager Tom Schervish, Hockey Director Mike Furlong, and Skating Director Michelle Dalton, with the company operating under continuous local ownership and no disclosed venture or institutional capital.

Name

Center Ice Sports Complex

Legal name

Center Ice Sports Complex

Website

https://centericesports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center Ice Sports Complex is a privately-held, year-round ice sports facility in North Canton, Ohio, operating an NHL-sized rink since 1999 and serving Stark County families with Learn to Skate, youth and adult hockey, figure skating, public open skate, and birthday party programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Ice Sports Facility

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG)

Keywords

• Ice skating facility
• Hockey programs
• Figure skating lessons
• Public open skate
• Recreation complex

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from Learn to Skate classes, hockey clinics, figure skating programs, and youth/adult leagues offered on a session basis
2. Admission and Skate Rental: Public open skate sessions charging admission fee plus optional skate rental
3. Birthday Parties and Group Events: Package-based birthday party bookings and group rates for 20+ skaters
4. Hockey Pro Shop: Full-service hockey pro shop selling equipment and merchandise
5. Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for local businesses including banner placements and event sponsorships targeting active families and youth

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Center Ice Sports Complex operates a year-round NHL-sized ice rink (200' x 85') offering Learn to Skate classes, youth and adult hockey leagues and clinics, figure skating programs, public open skate sessions, broomball, birthday party packages, and group events, complemented by an on-site Hockey Pro Shop, cafe, and arcade serving families and individuals in Stark County, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learn to Skate Program Structured group skating classes held 30 minutes once per week across 5-6 week sessions, designed for beginners through advanced levels and available to toddlers (3+), youth, and adults. Monday/Wednesday sessions cost $105 pre-registration / $110 after; Saturday sessions cost $90 pre-registration / $95 after. Rental skates available for $2.00.
• Public Open Skate Sessions Walk-in and reserved public skating sessions available year-round at the NHL-sized rink. Admission is $13.00 per person with optional skate rental at $4.00 (first-come, first-served). Reservable through FinnlyConnect.
• Learn to Play Hockey Beginner hockey instruction program at $14.00 per session, designed for new players to develop foundational hockey skills on the NHL-sized rink.
• Adult Drop-in Hockey and Stick Time Adult drop-in hockey sessions and stick time at $12 per session; goalies skate free for adult drop-in. Designed for recreational adult players seeking flexible practice and scrimmage opportunities.
• Accelerated Figure Skating Program Advanced figure skating subscription program priced at $230 for 6 weeks, running in conjunction with Learn to Skate classes and providing accelerated progression for serious figure skaters.
• Accelerated Hockey Program Comprehensive 6-week hockey development subscription at $230, including 2 Learn to Skate lessons per week, Learn to Play on Saturdays, open skate / stick time access, and free loaner equipment. Provides a structured pathway into CAHA youth hockey.
• Birthday Party Packages Birthday party package priced at $350 for up to 10 skaters, including a 2-hour party room, rental skates, 40-slice pizza (from Lindsey's Pizza), popcorn, 3 pitchers of drinks, and party supplies. Additional skaters cost $15 each with rental or $11 without.
• Group Rate Bookings Group skating rate at $13 per person for groups of 20 or more skaters, requiring a $260 deposit minimum. Designed for organizations and large gatherings seeking volume pricing.
• Broomball Broomball recreational sessions priced at $12 per person, available at the front desk for walk-in groups seeking a team ice sport alternative to hockey.
• Hockey Pro Shop Full-service on-site Hockey Pro Shop selling hockey equipment, apparel, and merchandise to rink patrons, hockey players, and figure skaters.
• Adult Hockey Leagues Adult hockey leagues offering organized recreational competitive play for adult players at the NHL-sized rink in North Canton, OH.
• Center Ice Skating Club Membership Affiliated Center Ice Skating Club offering membership-based figure skating opportunities at the Center Ice facility for skaters progressing through Learn to Skate into competitive figure skating.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 10,000 visitors per week at peak (2003)

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Center Ice FoundationcoreOthers501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 2015 to support physical fitness through figure skating, ice hockey, and ice skating activities. 100% of donations support designated teams or programs including Canton Akron Youth Hockey, Center Ice Skating Club, Akron University Hockey Club, Learn to Skate, and Theater on Ice.
• Canton Akron Youth Hockey Association (CAHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated youth hockey organization providing competitive hockey pathways for youth players. CAHA youth hockey players utilize Center Ice for practices and games, with pathway for Accelerated Hockey program participants.
• Center Ice Skating ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated figure skating club operating at the facility. Skaters can join through the club membership program. Provides competitive and recreational figure skating opportunities within the Center Ice ecosystem.
• Canton Precision Theatre on IceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater on ice program that performs at or partners with Center Ice, offering unique performance opportunities for figure skaters.
• YMCA StarkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity organization partnership for referral and program distribution to broader Stark County community.
• Akron University Hockey ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity hockey program that receives support through Center Ice Foundation donations.
• Zips HockeyminorOthersLocal hockey-related business partner.
• Mellion OrthodonticsminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Guys Tile and FlooringminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• WesbancominorOthersFinancial institution sponsor.
• Barberton TreeminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Mulch MakersminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Ortho United OhiominorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Soak City WashminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Brady's LandscapingminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• National GuardminorOthersMilitary organization sponsor.
• Perennial SmilesminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Lindsey's PizzaminorOthersPizza provider for birthday party packages, supplying 40-slice sheet pizza for party events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• US Figure Skating: National governing body for figure skating in the United States. Provides the competitive framework that affiliated skating clubs (like Center Ice Skating Club) operate within; comparable at the industry-oversight level.
• Learn to Skate USA: National governing body that provides the curriculum and certification framework used by facilities like Center Ice's Learn to Skate program. Not a competitor, but a structural enabler and benchmark for programming quality across the industry.

Direct peers

• The Rink at North Park: Public indoor ice rink in the Pittsburgh region offering open skate, lessons, hockey, and figure skating. Comparable community ice facility model with multi-program year-round operations.
• O'Brien Ice Arena: Cleveland-area indoor ice arena offering public skating, hockey leagues, learn-to-skate programs, and figure skating — directly comparable multi-program community ice facility serving the broader Northeast Ohio market.
• Alpine Ice Arena: Family-operated ice arena in Newbury, Ohio offering learn-to-skate, hockey leagues, figure skating, and public skating on similar multi-program ice surfaces. Most directly comparable regional competitor serving Northeast Ohio families.
• Winterhurst Skating Rink: Year-round indoor ice rink in Lakewood, Ohio offering public skating, learn-to-skate, hockey, and figure skating — comparable community ice facility with similar program mix and regional customer base.
• Kent State University Ice Arena: Public ice arena in Kent, Ohio offering open skate, lessons, hockey, and figure skating programming with a comparable community-service model. Operates in overlapping Northeast Ohio geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CenterIceCanton
• Facebookfacebook.com/CenterIceSportsComplex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-ice-sports-complex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center Ice Sports Complex