Ice Skating Headlines Winterfest at the Arch Tuesday November 15, 2016 By Explore St. Louis Guest Contacts: Ryan McClure CityArchRiver Foundation 314-744-9251 ryan.mcclure@cityarchriver.org Mike Caruso St. Louis Blues 314-622-2577 mcaruso@stlblues.com Ice Skating Headlines Winterfest at the Arch CityArchRiver Foundation and the St. Louis Blues bring rink to the Arch grounds December 27 – January 8 (ST. LOUIS) – November 15, 2016 – The St. Louis Blues and CityArchRiver Foundation have teamed up to bring an ice rink to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial during an exciting time in downtown St. Louis. Winterfest at the Arch will kick-off on December 27 with the opening of the ice rink in Luther Ely Smith Square, between the Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse. The rink will remain open until January 8 with many activities scheduled in between. “We’re excited to partner with CityArchRiver Foundation to bring hockey and skating under St. Louis’ defining symbol to the world.” said Chris Zimmerman, president and CEO of business operations for the St. Louis Blues. “This is a great opportunity for us to extend the energy of the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic to the Arch and the city.” “This is an amazing partnership with the Blues to make the Arch grounds buzz this winter,” said Eric Moraczewski, executive director of CityArchRiver Foundation. “We’re thankful to our partners at the National Park Service for the opportunity to bring this unique experience to visitors and residents of the St. Louis region.” Winterfest adds to the exciting events that will bring thousands downtown this holiday season. Winterfest will include an opening night celebration, Try Hockey for Free clinics and a street hockey tournament hosted by the Blues, whiskey tasting, New Year’s Eve family-friendly celebration, and of course skating every day of Winterfest. Skates will be available for rent on-site The skating rink will be made of synthetic ice, a unique material that replicates the feeling of skating on real ice. Visitors can use real skates on the 46 ft. x 92 ft. rink. The rink’s location in the newly renovated Luther Ely Smith Square highlights a completed portion of the $380 million CityArchRiver project, which is renovating the Arch grounds and surroundings. Many portions of the project are complete with the full project scheduled to be finished in late 2017. “Due to the ongoing construction this winter at the Arch we have a great one-time opportunity to host a skating rink in the park,” said Mike Ward, superintendent of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. “We hope that everyone enjoys this fun and healthy outdoor activity.” Additional events as part of Winter Fest at the Arch will be announced in the coming weeks. Check www.archwinterfest.com for news about the fun around the rink December 27 - January 8. Share
