Ice Palace

What Ice Palace does

Ice Chalet is a single-facility, family-oriented ice skating and sports complex operated by Chalet Ice Rinks, Inc. (Tennessee corporation) in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1962, it served as one of the first ice skating rinks in the American South with regularly scheduled public skating hours. The business delivers year-round ice access to East Tennessee residents, anchored by public skating sessions and a structured learn-to-skate curriculum (the Robert Unger and Larry LaBorde School of Ice Skating) based on the Ice Sports Industry (ISI) framework.

The facility generates revenue across seven primary streams: public session admissions, skating school tuition and private lessons, hosted competitive and curling events (including the annual Robert Unger ISI Competition and the Rocky Top Open Bonspiel), hockey leagues and instruction, facility rentals and birthday party packages, the on-site Pro Shop (skate fitting, mounting, sharpening, and merchandise), and gift card sales. Supporting infrastructure includes the original rink plus a second Zamboni (1972), the first electric Zamboni (2014), computer-controlled show lighting (2014), a renovated year-round ice floor (2016), and an on-site cafe. A Square-based e-commerce store extends merchandise distribution beyond the facility.

The customer base is broad and consumer-driven: families and recreational skaters (primary), hockey players (youth through adult, including the Knoxville Amateur Hockey Association), curling enthusiasts, and competitive figure skaters participating in synchronized and Theatre On Ice teams. Community outreach includes the non-profit Ice Chalet Skating Club of Knoxville and the RUMPS parent organization. The go-to-market model is community/event-driven, supported by a website, organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Tumblr), local event sponsorships (Nutcracker On Ice, Knoxville Christmas Parade), and phone/direct sales at the facility (865-588-1858). No venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment is indicated; ownership rests with primary shareholder Larry LaBorde (since 2013).

Name

Ice Palace

Legal name

Chalet Ice Rinks, Inc.

Website

https://chaleticerinks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ice Chalet is a Knoxville, Tennessee ice skating facility founded in 1962 that operates year-round public sessions, an ISI-based learn-to-skate school, hockey and curling programs, competitions, birthday parties, and an on-site pro shop, serving families and competitive skaters across East Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Ice Skating Facility

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG)

Keywords

• Recreational ice skating
• Ice skating school
• Hockey leagues
• Curling programs
• Ice rink facility

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

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

Revenue model

1. Public Ice Skating Sessions: Admission fees from open public skating sessions offered on a scheduled basis throughout the year
2. Skating School and Lessons: Structured learn-to-skate programs through the Robert Unger and Larry LaBorde School of Ice Skating, including private lessons
3. Competitions: Hosting the annual Robert Unger ISI Competition and participation in away competitions
4. Pro Shop: Skate sales, blade sharpening, repair services, apparel and merchandise sales. Built in 2010
5. Facility Rentals and Parties: Birthday party packages, private facility rentals, and group bookings. Groups of 10 or more receive discounts
6. Hockey and Curling Programs: Hockey leagues, curling programs including the Rocky Top Open Bonspiel
7. Gift Cards and Certificates: Gift certificates available for skating, pro shop purchases, classes, and sharpening. No expiration

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ice Chalet operates a year-round ice skating facility in Knoxville, Tennessee, providing public skating sessions, structured learn-to-skate instruction through the Robert Unger and Larry LaBorde School of Ice Skating, hockey leagues, curling programs, figure skating competitions, holiday shows such as Nutcracker On Ice, and event hosting including birthday parties and facility rentals. A pro shop offers skates, apparel, blade sharpening, and repair services.

Product overview

Ice Chalet operates as a single-facility ice skating and sports complex offering a unified portfolio of services centered around its year-round ice rink in Knoxville, Tennessee. The core offering is the Ice Chalet Ice Rink itself, which serves as the foundation for multiple integrated service lines: the Robert Unger and Larry LaBorde School of Ice Skating (providing structured ISI curriculum for all ages and levels), competitive programs (the annual Robert Unger ISI Competition), performance programming (Nutcracker On Ice, Show Skating, Theatre On Ice), sport-specific activities (Hockey and Curling programs), event services (Birthday Parties and Facility Rentals), retail (Pro Shop with equipment and Ice Chalet merchandise), and membership/community programs (Ice Chalet Skating Club). The Pro Shop, Cafe Chalet, and Gift Cards function as supplementary revenue streams. Together, these products create a comprehensive recreational skating destination that has served East Tennessee families since 1962.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Robert Unger & Larry LaBorde School of Ice Skating: The renowned skating school named after two key figures in Ice Chalet history, preparing generations of skaters for success.

Products and services

• Public Ice Skating Sessions Admission-based open public skating sessions offered on a scheduled basis throughout the year for families and individuals.
• Robert Unger and Larry LaBorde School of Ice Skating Structured learn-to-skate program offering group classes, private lessons, and progressive curricula from tots and beginners through advanced freestyle, dance, hockey, and synchronized team skating.
• Robert Unger ISI Competition Annual recreational skating competition hosted at the facility since 1969, with the 50th Annual competition celebrated in 2019.
• Nutcracker On Ice Annual holiday ice show offering theatrical performance opportunities for skaters of all ages and skill levels.
• Hockey Programs Hockey instruction, leagues, learn-to-play programs, and ice time rental for players from beginner to advanced levels.
• Curling Programs Curling activities including leagues, instruction, and hosting of bonspiel tournaments in partnership with the Great Smoky Mountains Curling Club.
• Pro Shop Full-service pro shop offering professional boot fitting, blade mounting and sharpening, repair services, and retail merchandise including skates (Jackson, Riedell, Bauer), apparel, and Ice Chalet branded merchandise.
• Birthday Parties and Private Facility Rentals Event hosting services including birthday party packages with warm party room options, group facility rentals for 10 or more with admission discounts, and full facility rental.
• Show Skating Professional ice show training, performance camps, and production opportunities including theatrical performances and competition show pieces.
• Gift Cards and Gift Certificates Gift cards and certificates usable for skating sessions, pro shop purchases including new skates, blade sharpening, and classes.
• Ice Chalet Skating Club Membership Non-profit club membership supporting recreational skating with awards, scholarships, and community activities including the Sarah Smiles program and RUMPS alumni group.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual Robert Unger ISI Competition hosting over 50+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• World Figure Sport SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The World Figure Sport Society held its first workshop at the Ice Chalet in 2018.
• Pro Skating Historical FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The Pro Skating Historical Foundation collection was moved to Knoxville for eventual display at the Ice Chalet in 2013.
• Great Smoky Mountains Curling ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005The Great Smoky Mountains Curling Club hosts the annual Rocky Top Open Bonspiel at the Ice Chalet, providing curling programming at the facility.
• Ice Skating Institute / Ice Sports Industry (ISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ice Chalet operates under the ISI learn-to-skate program and hosts the annual Robert Unger ISI Competition. ISI is the recreational ice skating organization that sets skill standards and competition frameworks that the Ice Chalet follows.
• U.S. Figure SkatingminorOthersNational governing body for figure skating in the United States, referenced as a resource and affiliation for competitive skaters.
• International Skating Union (ISU)minorOthersInternational governing body based in Lausanne, Switzerland, referenced as a resource for international competitive skating.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Ice House: Long-running multi-rink ice facility in Hackensack, New Jersey offering public skating, lessons, hockey, and figure skating — closely comparable to Ice Chalet's integrated ice sports programming at a single location.
• Sharks Ice: Operates a network of community ice rinks in the San Jose / Bay Area, offering public sessions, learn-to-skate, hockey leagues, and figure skating programs — a directly comparable multi-program ice-rink operator model to Ice Chalet.
• Center Ice of DuPage: Family-owned suburban Chicago ice rink offering public sessions, skating lessons, hockey, and figure skating — a comparable single/multi-site community ice operator.
• Chiller Ice Rinks: Operates a chain of community ice rinks in Ohio with public skating, skating school, hockey, and figure skating — a multi-site direct peer operating the same integrated programming model as Ice Chalet.
• Suburban Ice: Family-operated chain of ice rinks in the Detroit metro area, with learn-to-skate, hockey, and figure skating programming similar to Ice Chalet's offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Life Time Group Holdings: Large multi-sport fitness and recreation operator that includes ice rinks, skating programs, hockey leagues, and figure skating within a broader athletic country club portfolio — a broader incumbent that competes for the same family/hockey/skaters segment.

Others

• Come Play With Us (rink management): Ice rink management and consulting firm that operates or supports community rinks with programming, training, and operational services — adjacent ecosystem participant comparable to the third-party operating backbone of a community rink.
• US Ice Sports Industry (ISI): National governing body that defines the learn-to-skate curriculum Ice Chalet uses and accredits its coaches and competitions — an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor, but central to the operating model.

Regional players

• Iceland Skating Rink: Long-established public ice rink in London, UK operating public skating, lessons, and ice sports programs — a comparable community ice facility operating in a non-overlapping geography.
• Nashville Predators Community Rinks: Regional ice facility operator in Middle Tennessee with comparable public skating, youth hockey, and learn-to-skate programming — the most directly comparable southern US ice facility to Ice Chalet from a climate and geography standpoint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/IceChalet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCStDUyTe_KfSv5fAmH_PAjw
• Facebookfacebook.com/IceChalet
• Instagraminstagram.com/icechalet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ice-palace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Ice Palace