Cold Play

Nowadays, when it comes to hosting winter and ice sports competitions, weather conditions are of little concern for a growing number of destinations. Of course, the cold white stuff is still a requisite for alpine and cross-country sports, but not for a blizzard of other activities such as ice hockey, sled hockey, figure skating, curling and broomball.
 

With the growing number of top-notch indoor ice facilities, more destinations are able to host competitions year-round, giving event organizers a wealth of options. These seven destinations are prepared to provide thrills and chills.
 

Boise, Idaho

Hockey is the name of the game in Boise, which boasts the 5,000-seat Idaho Central Arena and Idaho Ice World. The Idaho Central Arena, which can accommodate high-profile hockey and figure skating events, held NHL Preseason in 2023, and the USA Hockey-Hockey Canada Rivalry Series this past November, with both events selling out.
 

Idaho Ice World offers two sheets of ice, one for hockey and figure skating and the other for curling, and recently expanded its spectator seating capacity. Both venues have restaurants, training areas and locker rooms on site, and are located about 10 minutes apart.
 

“Overall, we have a really strong hockey market here. We host youth hockey tournaments and state high school championships, and we can host every level of hockey: Youth, high school, college and pro,” says Lucas Gebhart, sports sales manager, Visit Boise. “USA Hockey has hosted several events here, including their 2024 Rivalry Series with Canada. We can do the same for figure skating. We have three [ice] sheets, including a 5,000-seat arena to work with.”
 

Looking ahead, Boise wants to host more national and high-profile hockey and figure skating events. “We have a terrific hockey market here. Our ECHL team, the Idaho Steelheads, sold out 35 of its 36 home games last season and we expect a similar number this year, as well. Their arena is attached to a Four-Diamond hotel and sits in the heart of Downtown Boise,” notes Gebhart. “This strong hockey market is why we have seen so much success hosting high-profile hockey events over the years.”
 

Butler County, Pennsylvania

Ice hockey is a big deal in this locale, and the UMPC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township is the premier winter sports venue. The state-of-the-art facility serves as the primary practice and training center for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, is the home rink for the Pens Elite Youth Hockey (boys and girls) and is the home facility for high school and middle school local hockey. It hosts multiple boys’ and girls’ youth hockey tournaments as well as USHA and USA Hockey tournaments and championships throughout the year. It also houses UPMC Sports Medicine, the area’s largest and most experienced sports medicine provider.
 

According to Perry Latimer, sales manager of Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, “There are typically 30 large events held at the facility each year, and this is in addition to the ice time for the Pittsburgh Penguins and their travel Pens Elite Teams. The Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey hosts its Sled Hockey festival each year, and camps are held each summer that focus on youth development.” She adds that in 2023, the Premier Ice Prospects Labor Day Girls’ Fest hosted 50 teams along with hundreds of local and out-of-state spectators, resulting in an economic impact of $1.8 million.
 

“One of the biggest initiatives to the area is expanding women’s and girls’ sports,” says Latimer. “The Pittsburgh Penguins recently launched the Pittsburgh Pennies with their ongoing efforts to expand hockey’s accessibility and inclusivity and foster gender equality within the sport.”
 

Charlotte, North Carolina

Curling is becoming extremely popular in Charlotte, as evidenced by the fact that the USA Curling 2026 Men’s and Women’s Nationals have been awarded to the city and the Bojangles Coliseum. The Bojangles Coliseum (part of the Bojangles Entertainment Complex) is an 8,600-seat multi-purpose arena that is home to the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL Florida Panthers.
 

Amanda Morgan, manager of sports development at Visit Charlotte, states, “We’re thrilled to bring elite-level curling to Charlotte. We’re confident that our sports-minded community will embrace it and look forward to helping grow the sport in Charlotte and North Carolina.”
 

Charlotte also hosts a variety of youth and amateur hockey tournaments, ATC tournaments, Carolina Amateur Hockey Association tournaments and MyHockey throughout the winter season. In addition to the Bojangles Coliseum, other key ice sport facilities include the Extreme Ice Center that provides two NHL regulation size ice rinks with stands and one small training rink; and Pineville Ice House that offers one NHL-size rink with spectator seating.
 

“We are continually working to diversify our portfolio by introducing new winter sports events that Charlotte has not yet hosted, while also welcoming fresh opportunities to engage athletes and fans already coming in for a tournament,” says Morgan. “We’d like to explore hosting USA Hockey, more USA Curling and US Figure Skating competitions.”
 

Erie, Pennsylvania

This winter and ice sports Mecca features five ice rinks, including the centrally located LECOM Sports Park and Erie Insurance Arena. The latter is a premier venue and has held the 2021 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four and the College Hockey Inc. Ice Breaker Tournament in 2018. The Erie Sports Commission hosted the USA Hockey National Men’s Sled Hockey Development Team Camp in 2023 at the arena, and nine weekend youth ice hockey tournaments are also on the docket for the 2024-25 hockey season.
 

Erie hosts the Mid-Atlantic Broomball Tournament that attracts nearly 20 adult teams annually. Also, the French Creek Curling Club recently relocated its operations to the LECOM Sports Park and wants to host a bonspiel in the near future.
 

For outdoor sports, Presque Isle State Park provides ice fishing, Asbury Woods offers cross-country skiing, and Peek’n Peak Resort and Mount Pleasant of Edinboro feature downhill skiing and snowboarding.
 

“Ice hockey is Erie’s most prominent winter sport, complemented by broomball, curling and figure skating at our five ice venues,” says Sydney Dietz, events and marketing manager, Erie Sports Commission. “Presque Isle Bay also hosts regular ice fishing tournaments.”
 

Lake George, New York

Lake George is a dynamic hub for winter sports. The region hosts prestigious competitions, including the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships, which feature Alpine and Nordic skiing, basketball and volleyball.
 

The Special Olympics Winter Games further highlight the area’s commitment to accessible and adaptive sports. Additionally, the FISU World University Games have showcased Lake George’s world-class facilities. Hockey is a central focus in the region and numerous youth and professional tournaments thrive here. Since 2019, winter and ice sports in Warren County have generated an economic impact of $41 million.
 

The area’s world-class winter sports venues include the 4,800-seat Cool Insuring Arena in downtown Glens Falls, home of the Adirondack Thunder hockey team. For snow-centric competitions, Gore Mountain, New York’s largest ski resort, boasts more than 119 trails across four unique peaks, ideal for ski racing, snowboarding and Nordic skiing events. Its four FIS Certifications meet International Ski Federation (FIS) standards for hosting top-tier competitive ski races. Meanwhile, West Mountain, situated near Glens Falls, has 31 ski trails and a tubing park and offers night skiing and onsite dining.
 

“Our destination is focused on strengthening and expanding several winter and ice sports-related initiatives. Key areas of growth include ice hockey, with an emphasis on hosting more youth tournaments and enhancing opportunities for players of all levels,” says Megan Seeley, marketing coordinator at Lake George Regional CVB. “Additionally, we aim to expand skiing opportunities, including both alpine and Nordic events, as well as ice fishing competitions that highlight the natural beauty of the region. Another important priority is expanding accessible and adaptive sports programs and tournaments, ensuring opportunities for athletes of all abilities.”
 

Oneida County, New York

In this destination, most of the winter and ice sports action occurs at the Nexus Center, a 169,440-square-foot facility featuring three multi-purpose playing surfaces that can be configured as ice rinks or turf fields. It is connected via walkway to the historic Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, providing a total of four surfaces for sports tournaments. The Mastrovito Hyundai Rink within the Nexus Center offers seating for 1,200 spectators and includes several luxury boxes overlooking the ice surface.
 

The Nexus Center hosts a variety of winter and ice sports events, among them regular youth hockey tournaments that attract teams from across the Northeast and Canada. The facility is also home to the Utica University women’s hockey team and serves as a practice and training facility for the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets. The venue is expected to attract over 320,000 visitors annually, generating more than $26 million in direct visitor spending.
 

“While the Nexus Center serves local athletes during the week for practices and training, its primary focus is on out-of-town tournament participants year-round. This strategy aims to draw competitive youth teams from across the U.S. and Canada, enhancing the facility’s regional and national significance,” says Madison Cermak, sales director for Oneida County Tourism. “Its ability to host a diverse array of events, from youth sports tournaments to professional training sessions, underscores its versatility and importance to the community. The facility’s design and amenities cater to athletes, spectators and sponsors, making it a premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Central New York region.”
 

Snohomish County, Washington

Ice hockey and figure skating are extremely popular here. The key venues in the area particularly suited to host these sports are Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett Community Ice Rink, Olympic View Arena and Lynnwood Ice Center.
 

Angel of the Winds Arena can seat 8,300 for hockey and also offers four locker rooms, a physical therapy company located in the building, concessions, meeting rooms and a ticketing office.

The Everett Community Ice Rink has a 250-to 300-seat capacity, four locker rooms, a pro shop and concessions. Olympic View Arena has a 200’ x 85’ ice rink with a pro shop, concessions, six locker rooms, training area/weight room area, hospitality room and seating capacity for 900 people. Lynnwood Ice Rink has an NHL-size ice rink with concessions, two locker rooms and a seating capacity for 500 people.
 

On the hockey front, the Everett Silvertips hockey team (Western Hockey League) have been playing their home games at Angel of the Winds Arena since 2023. Seattle Junior Metropolitans hosts youth hockey clinics and camps throughout the year at Olympic View Arena and Lynnwood Ice Center and in September 2024, the Seattle Junior Metropolitans hosted the Emerald City Girls Showcase at the Olympic View Arena and Lynnwood Ice Center. Everett Youth Hockey is hosting a Great Northwest Challenge 14U-C/U15- C hockey tournament in January 2025.

On the figure skating front, key events have included the Ice Fest Skating Competition (hosted annually for the past 30 years by the Seattle Skating Club); Blades on Broadway I and II (hosted by the Everett Figure Skating Club annually since 2022); and the 2008 and 2018 Skate America, the first event in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

“The opportunity to strengthen figure skating in Snohomish County is valuable as it allows for our two figure skating clubs to increase the number of people skating,” explains Tammy Dunn, executive director, Snohomish County Sports Commission. She adds that Everett Youth Hockey and Seattle Junior Hockey created an alliance in April 2024 to expand youth hockey for the community.  SDM