In recent years Huntington has seen a renaissance, and the time is right to bring back a regular ice surface to the city. The Tri-State area has been without an ice rink since 2005, and in that time, skaters, hockey players, and their families, fans, and supporters have had to venture to South Charleston or even further for ice. Marshall University even had a club hockey team come and go that had to hold all their practices and “home” games in Kanawha County.

The sale and impending demolition of the former Uptowner/Flats at 4th frees up a prime location for a new rink. The plot in question is a perfect size, and sits just a block from campus, at the edge of downtown Huntington. It has been a blighted spot on the local map, but such a redevelopment could see it become a true asset to the community.

A new rink could be relatively small, for skating and pickup hockey, or it could be a larger facility that could host a revived Marshall hockey team, or even a professional team for Huntington, without such a team for almost two decades. It could stand on its own, or be a part of a larger recreational or commercial development. An ice rink would be an exciting addition to the Jewel City, and placed at this location it stands a great chance at becoming a success.