The Rinks - Westminster Ice

What The Rinks - Westminster Ice does

The Rinks Foundation operates a network of eight ice and inline skating facilities across Southern California, founded in 2009 by Henry and Susan Samueli, owners of the Anaheim Ducks (NHL) and San Diego Gulls (AHL). The network's flagship is Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena, a roughly 280,000-square-foot, four-sheet facility developed for approximately $100-115 million, which serves as the Anaheim Ducks' official practice site and hosts more than one million visitors annually. Core products span Learn to Skate and Learn to Play curricula (4,000+ and 22,500+ enrollees respectively), youth hockey through the Jr. Ducks brand, adult hockey leagues, figure skating programs, public skating, and tournament/event hosting, with figure-skating talent development led by four-time Coach of the Year Rafael Arutyunyan (coach of Olympic champion Nathan Chen and Ilia Malinin).

The business model blends three revenue mechanics: usage-based revenue from public skating and drop-in sessions; recurring subscription revenue from multi-week skating curricula, youth and adult hockey league registrations, and figure-skating progression tracks; and transaction/event fees from tournaments, corporate events, and 55 affiliated high school hockey teams. Customer segments include families with children entering learn-to-skate pipelines, amateur and competitive hockey players, recreational figure skaters, and professional franchise tenants (Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls). Go-to-market is largely facility-anchored, supported by DaySmart Recreation online booking and amplified through the Anaheim Ducks brand ecosystem and USA Hockey National Championship hosting.

The foundation also pursues a stated community-impact mission typical of nonprofit sports operators, including adaptive/disabled hockey and accessibility programming, which broadens grant and municipal funding channels in addition to fee-based revenue.

Name

The Rinks - Westminster Ice

Legal name

The Rinks Foundation

Website

https://westminstericerink.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Rinks Foundation operates eight ice and inline skating facilities across Southern California, offering youth and adult hockey, figure skating, public skating, and learn-to-skate programs, anchored by the Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena flagship and affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ice Skating Facility & Hockey Programming

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)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB), Ice Hockey Leagues (MPAKAAAE), Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Ice rink operations
• Youth hockey programs
• Figure skating training
• Public skating sessions
• Skating facility rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ice Rink Operations: Daily public ice skating sessions, Learn to Skate classes, freestyle/figure skating practice sessions, and hockey rentals generate recurring usage-based revenue from individual skaters and groups.
2. Youth Hockey Programs: Jr. Ducks youth hockey leagues, travel hockey (Jr. Ducks), hockey initiation programs, and All-World Hockey Summer Camps provide recurring seasonal revenue from families and participants.
3. Adult Hockey Leagues: Adult hockey leagues, adult learn to play, and skills development programs serve the adult market with recurring league fees.
4. Figure Skating Programs: Skating Academy, freestyle sessions, figure skating camps, and High Performance Achievement Program generate revenue from competitive and recreational figure skaters.
5. Event Hosting: Birthday parties, corporate events, group outings, and tournament hosting generate event-based revenue. Private party bookings, broomball events, and special event rentals.
6. Food & Beverage: Food and beverage services at facilities including Between the Rinks Restaurant & Bar at Great Park Ice, concession stands, and event catering.
7. Tournament & Event Entry Fees: Hosting USA Hockey Nationals, high school championships, and figure skating qualifying events generates entry fees and attracts out-of-area participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Rinks is a network of ice and inline skating facilities across Southern California, operating under The Rinks Foundation. It provides public skating sessions, learn-to-skate classes, youth and adult hockey leagues (Jr. Ducks and Lady Ducks), figure skating academies, and event hosting (birthday parties, corporate events, tournaments). The network includes eight facilities including Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena, the largest ice facility in California.

Product overview

The Rinks is a network of ice rink and skating facilities across Southern California, operated by The Rinks Foundation. The company offers a unified platform of ice sports services centered around its facilities, which include six ice rinks (Anaheim ICE, KHS ICE, Lakewood ICE, Poway ICE, Yorba Linda ICE, and Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena) and two inline facilities (Corona Inline and Irvine Inline). The core product portfolio spans youth hockey development programs (Jr. Ducks), adult hockey leagues, public skating, learn-to-skate programs, figure skating academies, and event hosting services. The company also manages the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League and supports competitive figure skating through its association with Olympic-level athletes. Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena serves as the flagship facility, recognized as the largest ice facility in California and one of the most expansive in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Hockey Programs Youth hockey development programs including beginner introduction (First Strides, Learn to Play, Little Ducks), hockey initiation, youth hockey leagues, travel hockey (Jr. Ducks), and high school hockey through the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League. Designed for families with children progressing from beginner to competitive levels.
• Adult Hockey Programs Adult hockey programs including Adult Learn to Play, Adult Hockey Skills Development, and Adult Leagues serving recreational and competitive adult players across Southern California.
• Public Ice Skating Daily public ice skating sessions available at all The Rinks locations for individuals, friends, and families to skate together on a pay-as-you-go basis.
• Learn to Skate Beginner learn to skate classes and programs for new skaters, including the First Strides program which offers free introductory skating sessions. Largest Learn to Skate program in the country with more than 4,000 skaters enrolled.
• Figure Skating Programs Figure skating programs including Skating Academy, Freestyle sessions, Figure Skating Camps, and the High Performance Achievement Program for competitive skaters, featuring Olympic-level coaches.
• Birthday Parties and Events Birthday parties and special events hosted at ice rink facilities, with event rooms and customizable party packages at various locations including Anaheim ICE, Great Park Ice, Lakewood ICE, and Yorba Linda ICE.
• Minnesota Frost Camps 2026 On and off-ice hockey development camps for girls and women featuring instruction from Minnesota Frost PWHL players and staff, held at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 NHL draft picks since Jr. Ducks inception; 16 selections since 2018 alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anaheim DuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Great Park Ice serves as the official practice facility of the Anaheim Ducks NHL team. The Rinks is affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks organization, enabling shared youth development programs (Jr. Ducks) and cross-promotion. Henry and Susan Samueli, owners of the Anaheim Ducks, founded The Rinks Foundation.
• San Diego GullscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015San Diego Gulls (AHL) are the primary development affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Proposed Escondido Ice facility would serve as official practice facility for the Gulls.
• Irvine Ice FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrvine Ice Foundation manages Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena through a public-private partnership with the City of Irvine. All proceeds are reinvested into growing ice sports and recreational opportunities in the community.
• City of IrvinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership for Great Park Ice facility located at Orange County Great Park. City provides land/partnership, Rinks Foundation manages facility.
• City of EscondidominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU approved June 3, 2026 for proposed Escondido Ice three-sheet facility at Kit Carson Regional Park. City contributes land; Rinks Foundation finances, constructs, and manages facility at no cost to taxpayers.
• Easterseals Southern CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented sponsor of Disabled Hockey Jamboree at Great Park Ice, supporting adaptive hockey programs for sled hockey and special hockey disciplines.
• Warrior For Life FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWarrior For Life Fund (WFLF) Face Off For Heroes charity hockey game hosted at Great Park Ice. Event unites NHL alumni, active-duty military, and veterans with proceeds benefiting WFLF programs.
• National Hockey LeagueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNHL partnered with Warrior For Life Fund for Face Off For Heroes charity hockey game at Great Park Ice. League-level support for veteran and military community programs.
• Your True StepminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElite figure skating camp led by Nathan Chen, Jean-Luc Baker, and Sam Chouinard. Makes only West Coast appearance at Great Park Ice, bringing elite coaching to facility.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Life Time Fitness: National operator of fitness and recreation centers, including facilities with ice rinks, hockey programming, and figure skating. Comparable in operating recreational sports facilities at scale, though ice is one of many offerings rather than the core focus.

Regional players

• Northtown Center at Amherst (Buffalo): Three-sheet facility operated in partnership with the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) supporting youth hockey, figure skating, and community programming. Comparable operating model and NHL affiliation to Great Park Ice, though located in a hockey-traditional East Coast market.

Emerging players

• Star Lane Centre (formerly The Edge): Multi-rink ice facility in Stamford, CT offering youth hockey, figure skating, and public skating. Comparable in serving as a regional ice sports hub with programming across skill levels, though single-location.
• National Sports Center (Minnesota): Multi-sport campus in Blaine, MN featuring ice arenas, soccer fields, and other facilities used for tournaments and youth development. Comparable tournament-hosting and youth development function, though broader portfolio than The Rinks' ice-focused offering.

Broad incumbents

• Wollman Rink (New York): Iconic NYC ice rink in Central Park offering public skating, lessons, and hockey programming. Comparable single-asset ice rink operation with strong brand recognition, though on a smaller scale than The Rinks' multi-facility network.
• Chelsea Piers (New York): Large multi-sport facility operator in NYC offering ice skating, hockey, figure skating, and a wide range of other sports. Comparable to The Rinks in scale of facility, programming breadth, and premium positioning, but with a broader sports portfolio rather than ice-focused.

Direct peers

• Sharks Ice (San Jose): Operated by the San Jose Sharks (NHL), Sharks Ice runs multiple ice rink facilities in the Bay Area serving as the Sharks' training base and offering youth hockey, adult leagues, and public skating. Directly comparable to The Rinks' NHL-affiliated multi-facility model, though located in a different California region.
• City National Arena (Las Vegas): Two-sheet practice facility and community ice rink operated as the official training home of the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL). Comparable to Great Park Ice as an NHL team-affiliated facility that also serves community programs, youth hockey, and public skating in a warm-weather market.
• Dr Pepper StarCenter (Dallas): Multi-location chain of ice rinks operated by the Dallas Stars (NHL) offering youth hockey, figure skating, and public skating. Closest comparable to The Rinks' model of operating multiple ice rinks tied to an NHL franchise with a nonprofit/community development mission.
• Planet Ice: UK-headquartered operator of multiple ice rinks across the UK and Canada offering public skating, learn-to-skate, and ice hockey programmes. Comparable multi-facility ice rink operator with similar programming mix, though operating in different geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/The_Rinks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheRinksVideos/featured
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_rinks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-rinks---westminster-ice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries10 records

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 The Rinks - Westminster Ice