Skating returns with reopening of Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre
Back to SearchThe sounds of sharpened blades hitting the ice will soon return to St. Catharines.
As the City rolls forward with Stage 3 of its STC Framework for Recovery, Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre will reopen its doors this Saturday, Aug. 22, after months of closure in response to COVID-19. The opening marks the first City arena to begin post COVID-19 operations, with enhanced safety and prevention measures in place.
“There’s definitely some excitement building here, it has been a long time since we have welcomed the public onto the ice, and we know both our user groups and staff have definitely missed it,” said Community and Events Coordinator Brianne Wilson, adding, “while bringing back the joy of skating may be our goal, safety is our highest priority, and we have worked to have everything in place so this Saturday our users can feel confident in their continued health as they lace up their skates.”
In terms of safety protocols and procedures occupancy will be limited, with no more than 25 participants allowed on any individual ice pad to ensure physical distancing can be maintained. Spectator areas, benches and change rooms will not be available at this time.
Participants are asked to arrive dressed to skate, although chairs will be set up adjacent to ice areas for participants to put on their skates. Users should arrive 15 minutes before their ice time, and gather in the parking lot. When all participants are present staff will escort them into the facility at the front doors, as indicated by onsite signage.
This applies to both ice rentals and public skates. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection efforts will take place between groups of users.
Visitors will be required to wear masks in off-ice areas.
Arena hours remain unchanged from pre-COVID-19 hours, with the facility open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily.
Public skates will be available from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, beginning Aug. 24. Public skate participants will be required to register, on a first come first serve basis, via an online form at stcatharines.ca/PublicSkating. Upon completion of the form staff will follow up to arrange payment, with credit card being the preferred option.
Ahead of these regularly scheduled public skates, the City will host several free public skates to welcome the public back to the ice this Saturday, Aug. 22 on a first come first serve basis. The free public skates will take place on rinks one and three from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on rinks two and four from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is not offered for these free public skates.
The City has been working with established user groups through its Ice Allocation Policy to allocate seasonal ice needs. Those wishing to book ice can check availability through the eplay portal at stcatharines.ca/eplay by selecting ‘Ice; activities’ in the function field under the facilities tab. After reviewing availability email ice@stcatharines.ca with the desired timeslot and contact information including phone number for staff to follow up.
Ice availability is offered on a first come first serve basis. At this time, ice is not being allocated past Oct. 31.
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