Northshore Ice Arena

What Northshore Ice Arena does

North Shore Ice Arena (NSIA) is a nonprofit, single-facility ice sports venue located at 2111 Founders Drive, Northbrook, Illinois, operating in the Chicago North Shore suburbs. The facility comprises one full-size NHL rink that can be divided into two separately bookable halves (NHL 1 and NHL 2) and one studio rink at approximately half the NHL footprint, supporting simultaneous or sequential use by different groups. Operating hours run Monday-Friday 6am-10pm and weekends 7am-10pm, with ice purchases conducted online through the FinnlyConnect booking platform under a non-refundable, pay-as-you-go model.

The arena's primary go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, with four revenue streams: usage-based ice rental (long-tail of individual and team buyers), hockey camps and clinics for youth development (including a 2026 girls camp and summer hockey golf camp), sponsorship and advertising sales outsourced to Scoreboard Media, and a nonprofit donation program accepted via Zeffy and donor-advised funds (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, BNY Mellon). The venue is the designated home ice for three established North Shore youth hockey organizations — Wilmette Jr. Trevians, Winnetka Warriors, and New Trier Hockey — and supports adult hockey programming through a partnership with Premier Hockey Leagues and on-site performance training through GVN Performance NW.

NSIA operates as a community anchor rather than a commercial entertainment venue, with a stated mission supported by its 501(c)-eligible status (EIN 20-8396527). Its technology stack is functional rather than differentiated: FinnlyConnect handles scheduling, Live Barn provides game streaming, and the broader digital presence is limited to a WordPress website and a Facebook page. Strategic positioning rests on the Blackhawks "Proud Partner" affiliation, the embedded youth hockey ecosystem, and facility flexibility (divisible NHL sheet plus studio rink) rather than on proprietary technology or scaled operations.

Name

Northshore Ice Arena

Legal name

North Shore Ice Arena

Website

https://northshoreicearena.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

North Shore Ice Arena is a nonprofit dual-rink ice facility in Northbrook, Illinois, serving the Chicago North Shore youth and adult hockey community with ice rentals, hockey camps, adult leagues, performance training, and sponsorship opportunities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ice Sports Facility / Indoor Recreation

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB), Winter Sports Schools & Activity Centers (Ski, Snowboard, Snowmobile) (THAAAKAI)

Keywords

• Ice rink rentals
• Hockey camps
• Adult hockey leagues
• Ice sports facility
• Youth hockey programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ice Rental: Revenue from renting ice time at the NHL rink and studio rink, with options for full rink or half-rink rental. Ice purchases are made online and are non-refundable.
2. Sponsorship and Advertising: Advertising opportunities including scoreboard advertising, with partnerships through Scoreboard Media. Contact person Julie Dix handles sponsorship sales.
3. Donations: Nonprofit accepting donations for facility upgrades, clean facilities, and community programs. EIN 20-8396527. Accepts online donations via Zeffy, DAF direct contributions from Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon.
4. Hockey Camps and Clinics: Revenue from hockey camps and clinics for youth, including girls camp and summer hockey golf camp programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Northshore Ice Arena operates a dual-rink community ice sports facility in Northbrook, Illinois, providing ice time rentals (full NHL rink, half-rink NHL 1/NHL 2, and a smaller studio rink) booked online through the FinnlyConnect platform, along with youth hockey camps and clinics, adult hockey leagues, sponsorship/advertising opportunities, and a nonprofit donation program supporting facility upgrades. The arena is the home facility for Wilmette Jr. Trevians, Winnetka Warriors, and New Trier Hockey, and partners with the Chicago Blackhawks youth hockey initiative.

Product overview

North Shore Ice Arena is a single-facility ice arena offering ice rental services and youth/adult hockey programs. The core offerings include NHL rink and studio rink rentals (available through Finnly Connect for booking), hockey camps and clinics for youth development, adult hockey leagues, performance training through GVN Performance, sponsorship/advertising opportunities, and a nonprofit donation program supporting facility upgrades. The arena is home to Wilmette Jr. Trevians, Winnetka Warriors, and New Trier Hockey teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NHL Rink Ice Rental Full-size NHL rink available for hourly ice rental. Can be rented as a full rink or divided in half (NHL 1 or NHL 2). Ice purchases are made online and are non-refundable and cannot be changed. Targets hockey teams, coaches, and individual renters.
• Studio Rink Ice Rental Studio rink approximately half the size of the NHL rink, available for hourly rental. Suited for smaller groups, training, and instructional use. Booked through FinnlyConnect; purchases are non-refundable.
• Hockey Camps and Clinics Youth hockey development programs including the Girls Camp and Summer Hockey Golf Camp, plus various skill-building clinics. Designed for off-season training and specialized hockey education for youth players; registration via FinnlyConnect.
• Adult Hockey Programs Adult hockey leagues and programs hosted through the Premier Hockey Leagues partnership at the Northbrook facility. Targets adult recreational and competitive hockey players.
• Sponsorship and Advertising Advertising opportunities through scoreboard and venue signage at the arena. Packages sold through Scoreboard Media (contact: Julie Dix). Targets local and regional businesses seeking access to thousands of weekly visitors from diverse demographics.
• Donation Program Nonprofit donation program supporting arena facility upgrades (scoreboards, sound systems, rink infrastructure), clean facilities, and community programs. Operates under EIN 20-8396527. Accepts online donations via Zeffy (no fees, 100% reaches the rink; credit/debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, bank transfer) and DAF direct contributions from Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chicago BlackhawkscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNSIA is a Proud Partner with the Chicago Blackhawks, specifically their youth hockey community initiative. This partnership enhances NSIA's credibility within the hockey community and provides visibility through the NHL team's youth hockey network.
• Scoreboard MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScoreboard Media handles sponsorship and advertising sales for the arena. Contact Julie Dix manages advertising opportunities including scoreboard advertising and sponsorship packages.
• Premier Hockey LeaguesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Premier Hockey Leagues for adult hockey programming, providing adult hockey league opportunities at the facility.
• GVN PerformanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGVN Performance (gvnperformancenw.com) is linked as a partner on the website, providing performance training services to hockey players at the facility.
• ZeffyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZeffy donation platform used for online donations with no fees. Accepts various payment methods including credit/debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and bank transfer.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• MB Ice Arena (Madison Capitols): Multi-rink facility in Madison, WI home to USHL Madison Capitols and youth hockey programs. Comparable Midwest community hockey hub, though bigger and pro-team-affiliated.

Broad incumbents

• Lake Placid Olympic Center: Multi-rink public facility in Lake Placid, NY hosting hockey tournaments, figure skating, and public sessions. Comparable programming and rentals model, at a much larger Olympic-scale footprint.
• Panthers IceDen: Florida Panthers-affiliated multi-rink public facility offering youth hockey, adult leagues, and skating programs. Mirrors NSIA's NHL-affiliated community-hub model.
• The Rinks (Anaheim Ducks): Network of Ducks-affiliated community ice facilities in Southern California offering youth hockey, figure skating, and public sessions. Comparable programming mix and NHL-affiliated positioning.
• Sharks Ice at San Jose: NHL-affiliated multi-rink public facility in San Jose offering youth/adult hockey, skating, and rentals. Comparable to NSIA in core offerings, with broader scale and league affiliation.

Direct peers

• The Edge Ice Arena: Multi-rink regional ice facility in the Midwest offering youth hockey programs, lessons, and public sessions. Directly comparable community-driven model.
• Arctic Ice Arena: Regional multi-rink community ice facility offering youth hockey, public skating, and rentals. Closely mirrors NSIA's programming, pricing model, and community-anchor role.
• Wegmans Ice Complex: Multi-rink ice facility in Rochester, NY hosting youth hockey, figure skating, and recreational skating. Comparable scale and programming mix to NSIA.
• New England Sports Center: Multi-rink facility in Marlborough, MA hosting youth hockey tournaments, leagues, and rentals. Highly comparable to NSIA's multi-program, community-driven ice arena model.

Emerging players

• Hat Trick Hockey: Hockey training and camps operator running skill-development clinics and camps. Comparable to NSIA's camp/clinic programming line, though Hat Trick is training-focused rather than facility-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/131270280234907
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-shore-ice-arena-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Northshore Ice Arena