Fred Rust Ice Arena (UD)
The University of Delaware's twin-rink ice complex — weekend public skating, Blue Hens hockey, and the area's biggest learn-to-skate program.
The Quick Version
- • Two regulation ice sheets at UD's south campus: the Fred Rust rink (Olympic/international-sized, 2,500 seats, built 1988) and the older Gold Arena (NHL-sized, built 1971). Public skating runs on one of the two rinks; the other is usually hosting hockey practice or figure-skating club ice.
- • Public skate pricing (verify before driving): $12 adult (age 7+), $8 child (6 & under), free for UD students with ID. Skate rentals $5 — and yes, you'll want them unless you own.
- • Sessions tend to be weekends, often Friday/Saturday evenings or weekend afternoons — the schedule rotates around hockey games and figure-skating practice. Buy tickets ahead at bluehens.evenue.net to skip the line; cash or card at the door also works.
- • Family Fun weekends run in January and February — themed sessions with laser lights, projections, and lower-volume music. The best toddler-friendly public skates of the year.
- • Home of Blue Hens men's hockey (ACHA Division I — club, but real), women's hockey (NCAA Division I starting 2025–26 in Atlantic Hockey America), UD figure skating club, and the area's largest youth learn-to-skate program.
Best Ages
All ages with a steady skater on hand; sweet spot 5–12
Plan For
Public sessions are typically 2–3 hours of ice time; most families do 60–90 minutes on the ice and head home
Adults
$12
Kids
$8
What to Expect
Fred Rust is a working collegiate ice complex that opens its doors to the public on weekends — that's the right framing. Don't expect a polished commercial rink experience like the King of Prussia Skate Zone; expect a real college arena with chipped paint, hockey banners on the walls, and the smell of Zamboni fuel. It's exactly the kind of place that's better than the polished version for what families actually want from skating: cheap, generous ice time, no upsell.
The building houses two regulation sheets — the Fred Rust rink itself (international/Olympic-sized, 2,500 seats, the one used for hockey games) and the older Gold Arena from 1971 (NHL-sized). Public sessions usually run on one of the two; the other has hockey practice, figure-skating club ice, or a learn-to-skate class going. Staff will route you to the active rink when you walk in.
Weekend public sessions are the bread and butter. Pricing is reasonable ($12 adult, $8 kid, free for UD students), skate rentals are $5, and you buy at the door or online ahead. Sessions are typically 2–3 hours of ice time and most families do half that. Bring gloves and a hat — the rink is cold and the bleachers are colder. Snow pants for toddlers learning to fall are a quiet pro move.
Family Fun weekends in January and February are the best toddler-friendly public skates of the year. Same pricing, but the music is more kid-friendly, the lights are themed (laser projections, color washes), and there are usually free crafts or face-painting in the lobby. Winter Wonderland sessions around the holidays are similarly themed.
Beyond public skating, Fred Rust is the home rink for Blue Hens men's hockey (ACHA Division I — club, but real-quality), the new NCAA D-I women's program (started 2025–26 in Atlantic Hockey America), and the UD Figure Skating Club. Game tickets are cheap. Walking your kid into a college arena for a real hockey game is its own outing — and noticeably less intimidating than driving up to Philly for a Flyers game.
The youth learn-to-skate program is the largest in the region and runs in 6–8 week sessions through the school year. Reasonable per-session pricing, real instructors, and the rink is the same one your kid will eventually skate on if they stick with it. If you're thinking about whether skating will become a thing, this is where to start.
Did You Know?
Fred Rust has two regulation rinks under one roof — the international/Olympic-sized Rust rink (built 1988) and the NHL-sized Gold Arena (built 1971). Public sessions usually run on whichever one isn't hosting hockey practice that night, so the surface you skate on changes from week to week.
Who It's Best For
Babies and toddlers (under 3): tough — kids who can't stand on skates can't really do a public session, and watching from the bleachers gets old fast for them. Wait, or come for a hockey game instead. Preschoolers (3–5): possible with a parent who can hold them up the entire time — and the Family Fun weekends are the right window. Elementary (5–10): peak window. They're balance-able, the rink scale isn't intimidating, and the laser-light sessions are genuinely fun. Tweens and up: an obvious good time, especially Friday-night sessions when older kids show up in groups.
Highlights
Weekend Public Skating
Ages 5+Friday and Saturday evening or weekend afternoon sessions, year-round. Two-to-three hours of ice time, $12 adult / $8 child, $5 rental. Buy tickets at bluehens.evenue.net to skip the line.
Family Fun Weekends (Jan–Feb)
Ages 3–10Themed sessions with laser lights, color projections, and lower-volume music. The most toddler-friendly public skates of the year. Confirm dates on the rec site each year.
Blue Hens Men's Hockey
Ages 6+ACHA Division I club hockey — real-quality games at college prices. Home games are loud, atmospheric, and a great low-stakes introduction to live hockey for kids.
Blue Hens Women's Hockey (NCAA D-I)
Ages 6+Brand-new NCAA Division I program in Atlantic Hockey America, debuting 2025–26 season. Watching a D-I program in its founding years is its own kind of thing.
Learn to Skate Program
Ages 3+Largest youth learn-to-skate program in the region. 6–8 week sessions, real instructors, kids who stick with it eventually skate on the same ice as the Blue Hens.
Birthday Party Lounge
Ages 5+Reserve a lounge for $150 / 3 hours plus $7/skater. Book at least 2 weeks ahead by emailing bellac@udel.edu. The party rate is a real discount off the public-skate price.
What to Skip with Little Ones
- • Standard public sessions if your kid is under 3 and can't stand on skates — the parent will spend the whole hour holding them up. Wait for Family Fun weekends or a learn-to-skate class.
- • Friday-night hockey games with a toddler — they're loud, the seats are cold, and the game runs late. Sunday afternoon games or public skating is the better intro.
- • Skating without gloves or a hat. The rink is genuinely cold and toddler hands give out fast.
Logistics
Admission
Adults
$12
Kids
$8
Under
Free for UD students with valid ID
Adult rate is age 7+. Child rate is age 6 and under. Skate rentals are $5 per pair on top of admission. Birthday-party group rate is $7/skater (book the lounge separately).
Membership tip: If you skate more than 4–5 times per season, the punch-pass or season options on the rec site beat per-session pricing. No actual annual membership — pricing is per-session.
Getting There
Parking
Free in the lots around the South Campus athletic complex, but only outside business hours and during weekend sessions. Weekday parking on campus requires a UD permit — call ahead if you're going on a weekday.
Easiest lot is the one directly off South College Avenue at the arena entrance. On hockey game nights it fills early; arrive 30 minutes before puck-drop. The intramural-field lots a short walk south are the overflow. UD parking enforcement is real on weekdays — don't risk it without checking signs.
Entrance
Main entrance faces South College Ave on the west side of the building. Ticket window and skate rental are in the lobby. Family Fun and themed sessions enter through the same door — staff direct you to the active rink (Fred Rust vs Gold) on arrival.
Parent Logistics
Lobby and bleacher concourse are flat and stroller-fine. The rink itself obviously isn't — park the stroller bleacher-side. Bleacher seating is concrete with limited backs; bring a blanket or stadium seat if you'll be watching a long session.
Multiple restrooms off the main lobby and the bleacher concourse. Standard collegiate-arena condition — functional, not fancy.
Not confirmed in publicly accessible info — assume basic restrooms; if your kid is in diapers, plan to use the car or a bathroom in the lobby.
Indoor venue. The big considerations are temperature (the rink is cold — see pro tips) and noise (hockey nights and laser sessions are loud).
Food & Snacks
A small concession stand in the lobby on session days — pretzels, hot chocolate, snacks, drinks. Hot chocolate is the move after an hour on the ice. Hours track the public session schedule, not all-day.
Snack strategy: Eat before you come. Concessions are fine for a hot chocolate and a pretzel post-skate but not a meal. There are plenty of options on Main Street Newark (5 minutes north) for before or after — Newark Deli & Bagels, Iron Hill, Klondike Kate's.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Wear two layers and bring gloves. The rink is cold enough that thin sleeves get uncomfortable in 30 minutes. Snow pants on a toddler learning to fall are a quiet pro move.
- ✓ Buy public-skate tickets ahead at bluehens.evenue.net to skip the line on busy nights — you get a QR code at the door.
- ✓ Skate rentals are $5 — assume you need them unless you own. Sharpen any owned skates before showing up; the on-site sharpener exists but isn't always staffed.
- ✓ Get the post-skate hot chocolate from the lobby concession. It's the right ending to the outing.
- ✓ Family Fun and Winter Wonderland sessions are the best for first-time skaters — confirm dates on the rec site in November or early in January.
- ✓ For a college hockey game, Sunday afternoon ACHA matchups are easier with kids than Friday-night Atlantic Hockey America women's games. The crowds are smaller and the volume is moderate.
- ✓ Main Street Newark is 5 minutes north — pair a public session with lunch at Newark Deli & Bagels or Iron Hill for a real half-day outing.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Friday and Saturday evening sessions for the laser-light atmosphere. Weekend afternoon sessions are quieter and easier with younger kids. Family Fun weekends in January and February are the highlight of the season — confirm dates on the rec site before you commit.
Seasonal Notes
Public skating runs all year — both rinks are refrigerated. The schedule contracts in summer (one rink may be down for resurfacing or camps) and expands during the school year. The two best months for families are December (Winter Wonderland holiday sessions) and January–February (Family Fun weekends). Hockey season runs October through March; women's NCAA games are new for 2025–26 and worth catching.
Rainy Day?
Rain doesn't matter — the whole venue is indoor. Bad-weather days actually shorten public session lines because casual skaters stay home. If a public session is sold out and you drove over, Main Street Newark is 5 minutes north for a fallback morning.
While You're in the Area
Main Street Newark for lunch (5 min north), the Newark Free Library (5 min north), or pair with UD Green for a campus walk on a warmer day. Glasgow Park is 15 minutes south if you want to swap indoor ice for outdoor playground after.
Upcoming Events
Verified against the venue’s official info.
Last reviewed May 21, 2026. Prices re-checked May 21, 2026. Confirm anything dated (admission, hours, special events) on the venue’s own site before you drive.
Sources: rec.bluehens.com , bluehens.com , en.wikipedia.org