Montclair State University Takes Ownership Of Popular Ice Rink

MONTCLAIR, NJ — In less than a month, Montclair State University will own an ice rink.

On Monday, MSU administrators announced that on April 1, the university will take ownership of Floyd Hall Arena, the popular ice arena located on the university’s campus in Little Falls.

The facility, which will be renamed as the Montclair State University Ice Arena, opened in 1998 and houses two NHL-sized rinks, as well as amenities for parties and camps. More than 750,000 people visit the arena each year for “learn to skate” programs, hockey and figure skating events, and open skating sessions. The arena is home to the university’s nationally ranked men’s and women’s ice hockey clubs. It’s used by the Montclair Hockey Club, one of the oldest hockey programs in New Jersey, as well as several area high schools and the North Jersey Figure Skating Club. The arena also houses physical therapy provider Parabolic Performance & Rehabilitation.

In 2018, the arena made headlines as the training ground of Isadora Williams, who took to the ice for Brazil in that year’s Olympic games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Williams, who was studying nutrition and food science at Montclair State at the time, said she spent up to three hours at the arena for five days a week – usually in the morning or early afternoon – in addition to training for an hour and a half twice a week at its gym and coaching there on the weekends.

• See related article: Montclair State Student Skates Her Way To The Olympics
• See related article: 5 Interesting Facts About Isadora Williams

MSU has selected Firland Management to operate the facility. According to university administrators, the Lewiston, Maine-based firm has a “proven record of providing skilled leadership to the ice rink industry for more than 22 years.”

“The arena is a valued asset for the community and our faculty, staff and students,” said Karen Pennington, the university’s vice president for student development and campus life. “Because it is so popular, when Floyd Hall Enterprises proposed transferring ownership to us, this was an easy decision for the university to make.”

Floyd Hall, CEO of Floyd Hall Enterprises, offered the following statement about the change in ownership:

“In 1996, when we partnered with Montclair State University on Floyd Hall Arena and Yogi Berra Stadium, our primary goal was to create affordable, family entertainment in northern New Jersey. Over the last 22 years we have achieved our goal and so much more. We have taught thousands of people to skate and play hockey, provided jobs to many in Montclair State University and the surrounding communities, and created a safe, friendly and fun place for University students, and everyone in northern New Jersey to enjoy with their families. As Floyd Hall Arena moves to a new chapter, we wish Firland Management and Montclair State University the best. We want to thank all of the families who have skated with us over the years, especially our partners, the Montclair Hockey Club. We also wish to thank all of the high schools including Clifton, Passaic Valley/Cedar Grove and Fair Lawn, and the many hockey players, teams and ice skaters, who have called Floyd Hall Arena home. Each of you has become part of our family. We have been so fortunate to get to know many of you and we appreciate your loyalty and friendship.”

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