The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Ice Rink will open for the skating season Friday, December 6, with a new signature feature and further improvements to the icing system.
The visible change is the installation of a canopy over the ice rink, serving as a new decorative centerpiece for the rink, covering it during winter and setting up an even larger shade structure for warmer seasons.
The canopy was made possible by the generosity of UNMC supporters Ruth Scott and her late husband, Bill, who also made a previous gift to establish the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza. The plaza has become a campus gathering place, and the ice rink has become a seasonal attraction for the community and campus.
“Ruth and Bill Scott have built our academic campus through their philanthropy,” said Amy Volk, senior vice president for UNMC with the University of Nebraska Foundation. “The Scotts care deeply about UNMC students and the student experience. They made the initial gift to add the skating rink to provide students with a fun place to gather on campus and take a break. The Scott family is pleased to enhance the space with the new canopy.”
Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies said UNMC is grateful to the Scotts “for continuing to care deeply about our students and for their generosity.”
“This improvement will have a major impact in enabling our students, staff and faculty to enjoy use of the rink for more outdoor events and ceremonies throughout the year, under conditions that would have previously proven challenging,” Davies said. “The longstanding generosity of the Scotts continues to impact all aspects of our campus life, and this gift will help create wonderful memories for so many for years to come.
“I invite everyone to come out and enjoy skating in this improved facility this winter.”
Work on and around the rink this year follows improvements made last year to the rink’s icing system.
Among the improvements this year is a new panel around the base of the ice rink and a new hand railing around the rink that sits better on the ice, said Mark Bollig, facilities project manager with UNMC Facilities Management and Planning. The expectation is the ice will stay in better condition throughout the skating season, barring very warm days, Bollig said.
Other improvements include:
• A new soft playground-type walking surface around the rink.
• New stone stairs on the east side at the seating area.
• A new speaker and sound system.
Within the new canopy’s steel beams are small fabric panels to help cover the ice rink. The structure also can be set up to hold large fabric shade panels for spring through fall.
In spring 2025, new ambient lighting with color changing capability will be installed in the canopy’s center lighting. Now when warmer weather brings out the full shade panels, the rink will have added capacity to hold spring, summer and fall activities.
The 2024-25 UNMC Ice Rink skating season will run through Sunday, February 2.
Regular hours of operation are:
• Mondays and Thursdays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (UNMC campus intramurals take place those evenings.)
• Fridays and Saturdays: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Sundays: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Extended holiday hours run Monday, Dec. 23-Sunday, Jan. 5:
• Sundays through Thursdays: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Holiday hours are:
• Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Christmas Day: Closed
• New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• New Year’s Day: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Admission for the public is $7, which includes skates. Cash or credit card only — no checks or debit cards.
Admission is free for members of the med center and university community as follows:
• UNMC, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney and Clarkson College staff and students, along with Nebraska Medicine employees and students, along with their spouse/partner and children. Must present a valid university ID badge.
• Ronald McDonald House employees and house guests. Must present a valid ID badge.
