Plans forming to move ice rink groups to Dover

Groups that will permanently lose their home ice when the state fairgrounds’ rink closes in May are now expected to get a reprieve when a skating facility – either permanent or temporary – opens in Dover. 

Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen said Feb. 7, that plans were already in the works to build a $5 million to $8 million arena to accommodate the Delaware Thunder hockey team and other groups before the January announcement that the fair rink in Harrington would close by May 17.

“The decision by the Delaware State Fair has just expedited the process,” Christiansen said. 

“We got word that the state fair will not give us more time,” said Kristyn Clifton, the mother of a Delmarva Raptors youth hockey player. The Raptors have teams with a total of about 200 players.

Christiansen said his goal is to build a permanent rink at Schutte Park, but a temporary facility would be created at the park next winter if the arena is not complete in time.

“I would like it to be a brick-and-mortar building sooner than later,” he said, acknowledgin the timeline is tight for opening the planned Dover Civic Arena for next season.

Danny Aguilar, general manager of the Delaware State Fair, said the fair’s board of directors Feb. 5 authorized loaning or donating ice rink equipment to the effort, at the request of Christiansen. 

“The board voted to assist with the transition to get the skaters back on the ice,” Aguilar said.

The fair’s board of directors voted in January to close the more than 20-year-old rink after this season due to a series of expensive repairs and more that are expected. It plans to use the building in the future for concerts and other community events.

The City of Dover is working on the financing for the Dover Civic Arena building project, Christiansen said.

Schutte Park is a 71-acre complex at 10 Electric Ave. that includes four lighted softball fields, 10 multi-purpose fields and a cross country course. Dover Little League uses a ballfields in the back of the park.  

“I want to emphasize: the taxpayers of the City of Dover will not be encumbered with the cost of constructing or operating this facility,” Christiansen said.

The project would be paid for through bonds, similar to the process used to build DE Turf Sports Complex in Frederica about five years ago, he said. The bonds will be paid with revenue generated from sponsorships, ice rental fees, vendor fees and other sources.

From May to October, when the ice is removed, the Dover arena can be used for community events, such as car shows and trade shows, the mayor said.

The 2,300-seat Dover ice rink could boost tourism and sports recreation, create jobs and otherwise financially benefit the area, Christiansen said.

“I see this as an economic engine for Dover and Kent County,” he said. 

One of the tenants of the planned arena is the Delaware Thunder, a professional  hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League. The team has been dormant since before the 2023-24 season as it awaits development of Dover Civic Arena. The Thunder had called Centre Ice Rink home from 2019 to 2023.

A webpage and Facebook page for the Dover Civic Area project were recently created, including renderings of the design.

The groups that use the Centre Ice Rink met Feb. 6 to discuss finding alternative facilities in September through part of November, before a rink is expected to be available in Dover. 

“They’re trying to figure out a hybrid plan, where everyone can practice,” said Chris Parks of Lewes, who plays in the adult hockey league.

Meanwhile, the future for the groups appears to lie in Dover.

“We are looking at every way we can to work with our community partners to get ice back under the feet of those kids and adults,” Christiansen said.

“Everyone, including the men’s leagues, is more concerned about the kids,” Parks said.