The John F. Kennedy Civic Arena (also known as Kennedy Arena) is an indoor ice skating and ice hockey arena located in Rome, New York. The arena was home to the Copper City Chiefs of the North East Hockey League during the league's failed 2007–2008 season. The arena was going to be the home to the Eastern Professional Hockey League franchise but the team folded before the season. However, starting in 2010, it will be home to the Rome Frenzy of the Federal Hockey League.
The John F. Kennedy Civic Arena is one of the City of Rome’s most popular venues. Originally constructed in 1963 and opened in 1964 – and renovated in 2008 – the arena hosts numerous figure skating and ice hockey events, as well as learn to skate programs for youths. The arena is also home to the Rome Free Academy varsity hockey team, which plays its home games at the 1,200-seat facility.
The J.F. Kennedy Civic Arena is located at 500 W. Embargo St. in the City of Rome. It is co-located with the Municipal Pool.
The John F. Kennedy Civic Arena is a regional facility, which is used primarily for ice hockey and figure skating form October through March. The primary users are the Ford Stanwix Hockey Association, a not-for-profit youth hockey organization; Rome Free Academy; Rome Catholic High School; a local figure skating club; and various local groups and organizations as well as the general public.
Recently, design work began on a Phase II of improvements to the facility, specifically the warming room and concession area, that will allow for more and better off-season use of the facility, including usage by teens and seniors.
Municipal Pool is a community facility, which is open from June through early September. It meets the recreational swimming needs of west Rome. The arena and pool are served by a large parking lot off of Jay and Embargo Streets with space for more than 150 vehicles. There is also a smaller lot, primarily for employees and hockey officials on the west side of the arena with space for approximately 10 cars.
The Kennedy Arena completed a renovation program (Phase I) in 2009, which included renovations to the ice surface and refrigeration equipment as well as all of the facility's major systems (heating, plumbing, electrical, etc.). The project also included the construction of four new locker rooms as well as new bleacher seating and extended the ice surface 15 feet to a standard dimension of 85 feet × 200 feet. The shell of the building remains relatively unchanged from its original construction in 1963.
The development of Municipal Pool included a standard-size recreational swimming pool, two water play slides, and a bathhouse with restrooms.
Read more about John F. Kennedy Civic Arena: Copper City Chiefs Semi-professional Ice Hockey Team, Rome, New York, Renovations
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