university of illinois ice arena

Went there to watch a hockey game. The benches were hard and the ice look cold. I enjoyed look around the old building and see how it has been modified over the years. GREAT snack bar with very courteous college kids the counter. Great place to visit.

So nice to find an ice rink. Bring your own skates or rent them. Concessions available. Lessons available. So enjoyable for the whole family!

I started taking my 3 year old here for the lunch time skate (between 11a-1230p) as it is far less crowded than the weekend skates and allowed us more space to "practice" falling and working on skating skills. They provide ice walkers to help the more timid kids stay upright (although, this really isn't recommended as a good way to build ice skating skills). Treats and snacks are reasonably priced. We opted not to rent a locker... with so few people there it was easy to keep a close eye on our belongings. Wear gloves, hat and scarf... it is much warmer than the blustery weather outside the rink, but it's easy to feel chilled especially if you're not moving around a lot (as I was with my small child).

While visiting our son at U of I, my family decided to attend a hockey game. The experience brought my wife and me back to our college days. The experience was quite enjoyable and one that. I will remember for many years, by the way, the Illinois defeated Eastern Michigan, 7 to 0.

Considering it's the only ice arena in the Champaign vicinity, there's nothing to compare it with locally except my experiences of past ice arenas and it more than meets my expectations of fun. We've gone here many times over the years with our family and friends and have always had a great time. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the price is right.

The University of Illinois Ice Arena is a fun and functional multi-purpose Ice Arena. The Arena may show its age in some aspects, but I left satisfied after my visit. I visited specifically to see the University of Illinois club hockey team. The Arena also plays host to various other events, like a figure skating competition I inadvertently saw part of on the same day the hockey game was played. The building is nondescript from the outside, so much so that you would have no idea it was an Ice Arena if not for the sign out front. However, it does have the most unique hockey seating arrangement I’ve ever seen. The seats put you almost literally on top of the action, as they are raised about seven feet from the actual ice level. The stands are all bleachers seats, and do get a bit uncomfortable after long periods of sitting down. I also didn’t like how small and narrow the stairwells going up to the seating section are. On that note: the seating area is not handicap accessible. A general-admission ticket lets you stand in various spots around the perimeter of the Ice Arena glass though.When you first walk in, the Arena hits you with a distinct smell, which for lack of a better description, smells like sweat. I’ve noticed this smell on multiple visits spread out over the course of six plus years. The odor is especially strong towards the end of the winter season after the frequent use of the Arena throughout those months.The restrooms are well maintained and modern. In fact, the building’s exterior & seating may not be much different that it was in 1931, but at least the lobby area and other parts of the arena are updated. The Arena’s sound system was slightly below average in terms of quality, but there is a large size scoreboard at one end of the Arena, so it’s easy to keep track of what’s going on in the game. What’s not so modern is that you can’t buy hockey tickets online, so I had to buy them the day of the game at the Arena. The Illini hockey games also feature a student section called the “Harassing Illini”. Oh my, are they a tough, but fun crowd! I was entertained just by some of their chants and antics throughout the game.Until Illini Hockey upgrades from a club team into a fully-recognized school sport, I will continue to visit the Ice Arena for hockey games, & I’m sure I’ll enjoy my future visits as well.

Lugar agradável e, claro, muito frio. Possui arquibancadas dos dois lados da arena, além de lanchonete que serve vários petiscos, alimentos e bebidas para serem apreciados durante os jogos. É legal ver de perto a torcida organizada dos times que disputam hockey na Ice Arena.