Fundraising ramps up for planned ice arena in Georgetown

A year after the shock and disappointment at the announcement that the state fairgrounds ice rink would soon close, ice sports enthusiasts have cause for optimism as they plan a new arena in Georgetown.

The board of the Miracle Ice Arena project announced Dec. 23 it had established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to collect tax-exempt donations, signed a letter of intent for a site and obtained letters of support.

“That’s big news for us,” said Chris Steele, a member of the board.

Organizers have assembled an experienced team to bring the project to fruition, including board members, a grant writer and the longtime director of hockey operations at Centre Ice Arena, Steele said.

The first $5 million raised will allow the group to break ground on the $15 million first phase of the project to build an arena with two sheets of ice near Route 113 in Georgetown, he said. The total cost is projected at $30 million.

The 78,000-square-foot arena would be constructed at 20200 Dupont Blvd. about two-tenths of a mile north of Walmart. It will be located in the planned Georgetown Square, which will include other buildings.

The first phase includes both ice rinks, party space and concession stands. The second phase includes meeting space, a bar and restaurant, birthday party room and an arcade. Initially, stadium seating would be placed at the main rink and bleachers on the other, but plans call for stadium seating to replace the bleachers in the second phase.

Organizers have studied similar arenas elsewhere to guide their planning, Steele said. For example, the bar and restaurant will overlook the ice rinks, creating a comfortable amenity for visitors and families of the skaters and hockey players.

The ice also can be removed and replaced quickly so the facility can host many types of events, Steele said.

The fundraising campaign will determine the schedule for building the arena, but Steele said he’s excited to begin.

“We’re ready to go whenever they’re ready,” he said.

The arena will be open year-round, and its location a short distance from Delaware beaches will be a big draw for tournaments, Steele said. Summer camps and other activities are planned to keep youths busy and entertained.

The state fair board in December 2024 announced the closing of Centre Ice Arena at the state fairgrounds in Harrington at the end of that winter season due to growing maintenance costs. Groups that used the facility could not convince the board to reverse its decision, and efforts to include funding in the state budget for a new rink in Dover failed.

That left participants in adult and youth hockey leagues, and figure skaters to find ice at far-off arenas or miss out on their sports this winter.

Miracle Ice Arena organizers bought all of the Centre Ice Arena equipment related to the ice rink, including the rink and boards, Zambonis, scoreboard, rental skates and ice-making equipment for $196,000, Steele said.

The Miracle Ice Arena website is live, the organizers announced Dec. 23. Organizers formed a GoFundMe, which has raised $2,978 as of Dec. 29. But fundraising will begin in earnest with the new campaign that includes various levels of giving.

One of the fundraisers will let people pay to have a brick engraved with their names, and the bricks will be used in locations in and around the arena, including an outdoor patio and walkways, Steele said.

Letters of support are posted on the Miracle Ice Arena website.

“We anticipate this project will provide tremendous benefits across our community – economically, socially, and culturally,” Georgetown Mayor Bill West wrote in a Dec. 3 letter to the Delaware Tourism Office. 

West touted the recreation, health and economic benefits of the project, and pledged support for the effort.

He and others said they expect an ice rink would boost tourism and the local economy through its year-round activities and hosting tournaments.

“Having grown up in this community, I have seen firsthand how important accessible recreational facilities are to both our youth and adults,” said David Wilson, captain of the Titans men’s adult hockey team, in a Dec. 8 letter.

“The Miracle Ice Arena represents an opportunity to restore and elevate ice sports in our area, providing a positive outlet for local families, athletes and organizations,” added Wilson, who described himself as a local business owner, builder and lifelong Sussex County resident. 

“The Miracle Ice Rink will not only serve as a home for our Delmarva Warriors team, but also as a hub for development, teamwork and community engagement,” said Michael Hickey, executive director of the Delmarva Warriors Hockey Program, in a Dec. 7 letter.

In a Dec. 9 letter, Steve Cannon related his longtime involvement in hockey and getting involved locally after moving to Delaware from northern New York in 1999. He also related the pain that the closure of the fairgrounds area had on a family member. 

“The timing of losing the Centre Ice Rink could not have been worse for my family, as my granddaughter was just beginning her own skating journey with Learn to Skate,” Cannon wrote.

“She really enjoyed the whole experience and was looking forward to continuing to skate, and went back and forth with hockey versus figure skating,” he added. “She was really upset when we told her that there was not going to be a rink there anymore and that she might not be skating for a while.”

Organizers have high expectations for the Miracle Ice Arena project.

The timing is ideal for the fundraising campaign, with interest in ice sports expected to peak with the Winter Olympics scheduled in February in Italy, Steele said.

“We believe this will be a big hub for hockey in the Mid-Atlantic region,” he said.