Return of Newport Skating Center Just Shy of Fundraising Goal

Last year, many Newporters and winter visitors were disappointed to learn that the Newport Skating Center was no more.

Now, as the City-by-the-Sea slides toward another winter season, there’s a decent chance that the ice-skating drought will be remembered as a one-year hiatus. Newport Waterfront Events has nailed down most of the details to return the skating rink to its former home at the Newport Yachting Center, but it all hinges on one final fundraising push.

As of Monday, a $60,000 fundraising goal was at 82 percent — not enough, but close. Organizers are banking on a big turnout this Friday for a fundraiser at Cappy’s at Hillside Café to help kick the puck into the goal net. The event, from 6 to 9 p.m., features a 50/50 raffle for cash, prizes, free food and more.

“The Newport Waterfront Events team is committed to doing whatever we can to bring back the Newport Skating Center but we still need your support in this home stretch of our fundraising since we are getting very close to the time we need to start setting up the rink to be open in December,” the company said in a statement.

Another way they’re raising some of the lingering $22,000 or so is through an online crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo.

NWE is also offering partnership and sponsorship opportunities for businesses.

The Newport Skating Center had been a staple of the downtown Newport holiday streetscape for 14 years before it fell victim to the Newport Harbor Corporation’s sale of the Newport Yachting Center to Peregrine Group, which does business at the site as Scott’s Wharf. It, along with the popular Newport Summer Music and Comedy Series, found themselves out of house and home and the promotional arm of the former yachting center became NWE.

NWE’s leadership felt it was important to bring the rink back to the community and worked to negotiate an agreement between Scott’s Wharf, Newport Harbor Corporation and NWE to make it possible. NHC has agreed to donate the rink equipment to NWE and Scott’s Wharf has agreed to offer its former space.

““I want to thank Newport Harbor Corporation and Scott’s Wharf for making the return of the rink for this upcoming season a distinct possibility,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, President and CEO of Waterfront Productions, the parent company of Newport Waterfront Events, and former General Manager of the Newport Yachting Center. “It is both exciting and comforting to know that the winter wonderland could return along with the vibrancy to downtown that the rink helps to create. However, the final, critical piece to make this a reality is to garner financial support from corporate partnerships and the community to help fund the rink’s operations. The rink operates at a loss annually due to the extensive expenses to maintain it. In order for Newport Waterfront Events to take this on as a new company we need extra help this year.”

Corporate sponsorships that have been secured to date for the Newport Skating Center include: Cox, Stop & Shop, Viti Auto Group, Rob Levine & Associates and Think Thin. The Newport Waterfront Events team is also busy speaking with additional companies who have supported the rink over the last 14 years.

“We are delighted that Waterfront Productions is working hard to bring back such an important winter tradition. The City of Newport and our neighbors have been exceptionally welcoming since our purchase of the Yachting Center, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of the community,” said Colin Kane, Principal of Scott’s Wharf LLC and Peregrine Group LLC.

“NHC is thrilled to be a part of the team effort to bring the skating rink back to downtown Newport,” said Paul O’Reilly, President & CEO, Newport Harbor Corporation.

Palmieri added that she could not guarantee that the Newport Yachting Center location will be a long-term solution for the rink but said this would be a first step towards the goal of realizing a permanent home for the Newport Skating Center.

The Newport Skating Center, which first opened in 2000, features a 9,000 square foot skating surface large enough to accommodate up to 100 skaters at a time. Skate rentals, hot beverages, comfort foods, lighting for night skating, regular admission discounts, free parking and viewing spaces for the public are also featured at the rink.