Thousands of skaters, tons of donated food: The numbers behind Iceville

Iceville at Mosaic Stadium was a smash hit in Regina.

It was revealed Monday that around 13,000 people skated at the giant outdoor rink through January and February. However, that’s just a fraction of how many people wanted to get on the ice. Around 200,000 tried to get tickets after the spots were filled.

That type of enthusiasm has Tim Reid, CEO of Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), feeling excited for the future.

“Watching others get down to that field level for the first time, I think it was part of the magic of Iceville … It was just such a unique place,” he said.

Donations for the Regina Food Bank were accepted at Iceville. Over two months, around 5,500 pounds were donated.

REAL did not charge for tickets this winter, but thanks to sponsors and volunteers, it was able to break even on a $200,000 budget.

“One of our objectives this year was to make sure that it’s free and accessible …,” Reid said. “I think what we recognized through that is there was a massive demand for an opportunity to skate.

“I think the other piece that we recognized through COVID-19 is that price is a barrier for many in our community. During (the pandemic), our role … is to make sure that we have an opportunity to bring the community together, and that it’s equal access for everybody.”

However, moving forward, Reid believes Iceville can be a way to generate some cashflow in the CFL off-season.

“When you recognize there are over 200,000 people who want to go for a skate, you actually validate your business model a little bit,” Reid said.

“I think you will see this come back next year. We will make sure that it’s accessible from a price tag, but I think we will see some kind of a fee to come for a skate … We know there are 200,000 to 300,000 who want to go for a skate, and so I think that brings a fairly significant revenue stream.”

He’s confident Iceville will return, and believes ticket prices will be able to stay relatively low.

“Next year, we think there’s actually a pretty valuable business line. It’s something that will drive some profitability to the organization and, frankly, at a very nominal fee because the numbers are so high (for people who) want to go for a skate,” Reid said.

Iceville opened in early January. Its last day of operation was Sunday.