Royal Oak Gets Seasonal Ice Rink

ROYAL OAK, MI — A seasonal ice rink is coming to Royal Oak after city officials unanimously voted in favor of the proposal during Monday night's city commission meeting.

The rink will be located in the Centennial Commons downtown park and is expected to open sometime between mid-November and early December. It will stay open through the Winter Blast, which ends Feb. 5, 2023.

Jon Witz, producer of Arts, Beats, and Eats presented the proposal, which he developed after he saw thousands of people enjoying the rink at the Winter Blast event back in February. He also said it would have a positive effect on nearby businesses.

Witz said the proposal's partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and sponsorships would significantly reduce the rink's cost, which officials estimate to cost somewhere between $379,000 and $421,000, depending on how long it would be open.

After the DDA and sponsorships kick in, Witz said the city would be looking at a starting cost of around $100,000 to $125,000, and that just one business alone could help off-set the deficit, let alone the money the rink would raise from sources of revenue, such as admission fees and parking.

City Commissioner Brandon Kolo also said the rink itself would bring down the cost, considering that most people would rent skates. Overall, officials projected sponsorships and the rink would bring in a total of $215,000.

"This would be magical, it would compliment events like the tree lighting and other winter festivities that will place in the city," Witz said. "The Winter Blast was a home run...and there's was just a vision to something special for the city to continue."

Officials did run into a road block when debating on how to pay for energy and security for the rink, but officials resolved those issues by working in several amendments to the original proposal.