Puck Daddy - NHL

Ice time at your local rink can be hard to find. Sometimes, due to programming, your chance to hop on a fresh sheet with your buddies is only available in the wee hours of the morning or very, very late at night.

Everyone plunks down his or her money to cover the cost for an hour's rental; and before you know it, an hour has passed and you're getting kicked off by the cranky rink attendant.

If you're in the mood to get away from the Zamboni fumes and stale coffee, and will be in the Boston area this December, then maybe renting out the Winter Classic rink at Fenway Park will be a nice change of pace, no? 

That is, of course, if you're willing to sell a kidney or two.

As the Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont found out:

"That one-hour ice rental at a local rink in and around Boston typically would cost upward of $300. At Fenway, the going rate will be $7,500 or $10,000 for each one-hour session. That is not a typo. The going rate will be as high as 33 times more than what a prime-time hour would cost at one of the area's better rinks. And according to Sam Kennedy, executive vice president and COO of the Red Sox as well as president of Fenway Sports Group, there has been no shortage of folks lining up to reserve the time."

Kennedy goes on to say the exorbitant rental fees do not equal the Red Sox making a killing on selling ice time, as Dupont reports that the NHL will charge Fenway Park $16,000 a day when the rink will be used for "entertaining and marketing purposes."

One of those "entertaining" purposes will be for open skates to the public, likely the only chance Joe Hockey Fan will get to skate on the same ice that the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins will play on come Jan. 1, as well as the Hockey East doubleheader a week later.

The rental fees are striking a nerve with local hockey programs and beer-leaguers who would be interested in shelling out a bit more for a chance to skate at Fenway, but after doing the math realized that "a bit more" is just too costly.

Kennedy, in an attempt to relate to Joe Hockey Fan, sympathized with those who can't afford the rental fees, but stated the clear goal of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:

"I can tell you that the interest [in one-hour rentals] has been overwhelming,'' said Kennedy. "The price has not been a deterrent whatsoever. Hey, I still play beer-league hockey, so I hear you loud and clear over how some people might compare these prices. But this is geared, really, to our corporate base."

Thousands of beer leaguers just channeled their inner Billy Walsh and shouted, "Suits suck!"

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26 Comments

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  1. hb
    1. Posted by hb Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:07 pm EST

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    So convince a few of the beer-leaguers' employers to go in together and rent the ice for two hours. Invite your whole team, and everyone at the place of employment plus their families. Have a short 10 minutes per period game for the adult and late teen players with frequent line changes followed by a kids game with the same format. Use the rest of the ice time for group skating and you'll have the perfect once in a lifetime event for employee appreciation.
  2. JohnC
    2. Posted by JohnC Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:56 pm EST

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    Renting ice at any NHL arena would be prohibitive at best; typically there would be a ticket purchase requirement (if applicable) or a substantial cost.
    See "economics", "supply", "demand"...if people are willing to pay the $10,000, then clearly demand exists.
    As a comparison, rather than contact a local rink, contact NHL clubs and ask them what it would cost to rent that ice out for either an hour or 90 minutes.
  3. urbanwks
    3. Posted by urbanwks Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:58 pm EST

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    Not related at all, but i was wondering why everyone, everywhere is saying that the Pens and Devils 7-0 road start is a tie for an NHL record, when the 06-07 Sabres went 10-0 on the road to start their season?? I mean, if the Sabres are that irrelevant, I'm fine with it...but you figure that someone would remember that (unless I'm imagining it).
  4. m_762
    4. Posted by m_762 Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:30 pm EST

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    The Devils have a similar eye-popper... they charge $7,500 to use the practice rink attached to the Rock. We looked into it last year as my beer league team has an annual game against our "sister" team and we thought it would be fun to do. They give you a boatload of tickets for the game that night (you play in the afternoon before the game), but still... $7,500 and it isn't even the main ice at the Rock...
    Each team has about 15 guys and it comes out to about $250 a head... I'd likely do it if the game was in the Rock but $250 to play next door... no thanks!
  5. Bill
    5. Posted by Bill Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:05 pm EST

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    urbanwks, I just looked at their schedule for that year and you are right.
  6. habs1rule
    6. Posted by habs1rule Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:32 pm EST

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    Why would I pay $7500.00 to slip and fall a dozen times, while my friends are laughing trying to get me up..ala Ralph Kramden of the Honeymooners!! Lu Lu!!
  7. broadstreet_bully
    7. Posted by broadstreet_bully Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:42 pm EST

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    After the game they should let the kiddies on the ice to find the Bruins' players teeth.
  8. Geoff D
    8. Posted by Geoff D Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:39 am EST

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    this classic thing is getting out of hand. i know the lines are drawn on this, but i cant get into this crap.
  9. jon m
    9. Posted by jon m Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:05 am EST

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    Why should the NHL get any money out of f*cking up Fenway's field with this hockey bullsh!t.
  10. Vinnydog
    10. Posted by Vinnydog Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:07 am EST

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    I rather go to a local ice rink and pay the $300+ per hour for 3 hours.
  11. George
    11. Posted by George Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:23 am EST

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    #9.. red sox are garbage anyway.. its winter (field is hard, no1 plays) the field is gonna get [profane]d up anyway y not enjoy it w. a great game of hockey and a great event like winter classic
  12. Big Ern
    12. Posted by Big Ern Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:42 am EST

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    +1 for Billy Walsh reference.
  13. Daniel Z
    13. Posted by Daniel Z Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:50 am EST

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    Yeah it's too bad that Entourage reference will be lost on most of the people that read this. I appreciated it.
  14. Puck Off EH
    14. Posted by Puck Off EH Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:52 am EST

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    #9,
    You are kidding right? Afterall, effective like real soon once the snow starts falling and the infield and grass freezes over goes brown due to your miserable winter weather, does it make ANY difference as to what they put on top of the grass and infield unitl the sring thaw 4+ months from now? Or is it that you are still in denial that the Angels stomped all over that infield a month ago!!! Screw the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics & the Patriots, enjoy your winter douche! Then again you probably are one of those beantown posers from another part of the country.
  15. JJ
    15. Posted by JJ Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:11 am EST

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    the winter classic is so cool
  16. G-MAN
    16. Posted by G-MAN Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:58 am EST

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    # 11 ...What are you a scumbag NY fan?
    Anyway...Hockey at Fenway...C'mon ya gotta love that...as #15 stated, it's just cool!
  17. Rocky
    17. Posted by Rocky Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:59 am EST

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    i'm playing a mens league game at Fenway this December and we are paying less than $7500 for the sheet.
    figure it costs 200 per person which is comparable to what you would pay for decent tickets to a red sox game and i think its worth it. as an added bonus, you get to bring your own beer!
  18. DavidW
    18. Posted by DavidW Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:11 am EST

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    Buffalo was the best winter classic
  19. Chris B
    19. Posted by Chris B Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:44 am EST

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    You're right DavidW. Buffalo was better, in my opinion. I don't like the way the rink is set up at the ball parks. They should have it at football stadiums. I guess I can't really complain because I didn't go to either of them.
  20. fridman84
    20. Posted by fridman84 Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:59 am EST

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    I don't know about other states, but here in Minnesota I have three free outdoor rinks with nets within a mile of my house, not to mention the lake behind my house I can skate on. God I love the state of hockey.
  21. Craig C
    21. Posted by Craig C Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:00 am EST

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    The Winter Classic in Buffalo was awesome: 76,000 fans, snow, great game, great atmosphere.
  22. mcbird35
    22. Posted by mcbird35 Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:30 am EST

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    Shoulda thrown the picture of Billy in there, he's a classic.
  23. davidsavard
    23. Posted by davidsavard Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:31 am EST

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    TOO bad the NHL is so greedy, but it's clear (??) they need the money to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes.
    Would have been a great opportunity to grow the sport and give back to the fcommunity/fans that pay to support the league.
    Disappointed this is all about making money. Afterall, they are already riping on the fans for the cost of the tickets at this event.
    I would understand if the majority of the money went to support youth hockey programs, special olympics, etc.,
  24. kev.chase
    24. Posted by kev.chase Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:08 am EST

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    i have beter things to spend my money on then renting a rink.
    its a money grab.
    they can stick thire price up thire a*s
    what a joke
  25. Barr
    25. Posted by Barr Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:22 am EST

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    I agree with #1 completely. Not that expensive if done properly, for a once in a lifetime experience. I played on Northlands Coliseum (Now Rexall Place) in Edmonton in the hayday of the Oilers (Mid '80's). I was like 12 - 13 and we got to dress in the Oilers room and everything. Pretty cool experience. I am now coaching my kids team and looking to do the same thing...
    As for the best NHL outdoor game, the first Heritage Classic with Montreal and Edmonton was the best. Freezing cold, but an amazing time. Gretzky, Coffey, Messier, Kurri, Fuhr, and the rest of the classic Oilers vs. Lafleur, Muller, Gainey, Robinson, etc. What an amazing day that was. Plus the NHL game afterwards that was pretty decent, and has the iconic Theodore picture with the tuque on. 7 hours outside in -25 C weather.......good times.

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