Plenty of ice rinks open with good intentions and close a decade later. A community ice rink in Bend has to do better than that, and the difference comes down to the model. The Forge was designed from day one to sidestep the financial traps that sink rinks. No debt. Several revenue streams. Two sheets of ice. Construction built to run lean for generations. A strong model is what keeps a rink open, and we are building this one to last.

Why a Community Ice Rink in Bend Can Succeed

Most ice facilities are fighting an uphill battle. The average North American ice rink is now more than 30 years old, with aging systems that push up operating costs. Many face closure under debt, rising energy bills, and a single stream of revenue.

A community ice rink in Bend has to clear those same hurdles. The Forge was engineered to clear all of them at once, by removing debt, spreading revenue across many sources, and building efficiently from the start. We studied why so many rinks fail, then designed around every failure point we found. The pattern was clear, and so was the fix. None of it relies on hope. All of it relies on math. That is the standard a community rink should be held to.

Debt-Free From Day One

Debt service is the quiet killer of community rinks. A loan payment comes due every month, in the busy season and the slow season alike. One mild winter can tip a leveraged rink into trouble.

The Forge will carry no long-term debt, because the community is funding it directly. That single choice removes the most common reason rinks shut their doors. Every dollar of revenue will go straight to ice, programs, and people. If energy prices jump, we will adjust the budget and keep the doors open. Our debt-free model is more than a talking point. It is the difference between weathering a slow season and closing for good.

Two Sheets and Many Revenue Streams

One sheet of ice is a fragile business. Two sheets change the math. The facility will run two NHL-regulation sheets under one roof, which will spread fixed costs like staff, utilities, and maintenance across twice the available ice. More sellable hours will mean steadier income, and a slow morning on one sheet can run beside a packed clinic on the other.

Two sheets also open up far more league play. Youth and adult leagues can run at the same time, which will fill weeknights and weekends with steady, recurring ice time. That kind of consistent demand is something a single rink cannot match.

Income will arrive from many directions at once. Skating programs and lessons will drive steady enrollment. The pro shop will sell gear and sharpen skates. Youth and adult leagues will fill the calendar. Food and beverage will keep families fed and lingering. Memberships will build a dependable base. When one stream dips, the others will carry the load. That spread will turn a seasonal gamble into a year-round business.

Built to Last

Energy is the highest ongoing cost for most ice facilities, and refrigeration drives the bill. The Forge will be built modern and efficient from the slab up, which will keep that cost in check season after season. Efficient systems also mean fewer surprise breakdowns and a longer working life for the building.

We are designing this rink for generations of Central Oregon skaters, and the engineering reflects that timeline. Lower operating costs will also keep skating affordable, which keeps the ice full and the model working. The savings will cycle back to the families who use the place. A sound model still needs a sound building underneath it, and we are designing both to hold.

Why the Model Works

A community ice rink in Bend works when the model is sound, and this one rests on four supports: no debt, many revenue streams, two sheets, and efficient construction. Together, they will let The Forge serve this community for generations, with the staying power most rinks never reach. Our FAQ digs into the questions careful supporters ask, from daily operations to the long-term plan. 

Bend has waited a long time for ice it can count on. Join our email list, and we’ll keep you in the loop as the project progresses.