Hardhat Tour: Soon to Open Wings Arena in Stamford to Feature 200 x 85 Ft NHL Standard Rink

Hockey players and figure skaters rejoice! Wings Arena is approaching completion in Stamford, near the Old Greenwich line.

The vast property, zoned for industrial use, was home to the original Conair building, and the Wings Arena’s parcel featured a vacant warehouse.

According to Wings CEO Francois Magnant, who is also the general manager of the Greenwich Skating Club, construction has moved along quickly since approvals were in place and the expectation is to celebrate completion in June.

Back in February 2023 Stamford’s Zoning Board approved the application for Wings Arena at 50 Barry Place.

 

During a hard hat tour on Wednesday, Mr. Magnant shared his vision for the vibe he hopes to create at Wings.

“If I’m an athlete, a parent or a guest, I want a staff that is friendly and a guest experience that is high quality,” he said, adding he hoped Wings will be a place people will want to hang out.”

“I want athletes to feel inspired and bring the best version of themselves,” he added. “And I want parents and guests to feel welcome.”

Magnant plays men’s league hockey himself. Having grown up in Montreal and played men’s hockey for Yale, Magnant said he was excited about his second career, having worked in the corporate world for 20 years in the wine & spirits business.

“The vision of the rink is to foster a love of all ice sports including hockey and figure skating, but also to nurture general health and wellness,” he said adding that the rink will offer general skating sessions with a set schedule that is open to the public, not just Stamford residents.

Of the spacious lobby, Magnant said there were plans in the works for a mural, large digital displays, and a café.

“There are a lot of athletes coming through who want things that are both convenient and healthy, and can fuel a body before or after exercise,” he said, adding that café he envisions will be something of a “nutrition hub” with countertop grab & go items including high protein shakes, smoothies, coffees and tea.

The high-ceiling lobby also features a wall of windows overlooking the National Hockey League standard 200 x 85 feet rink below, where on Wednesday workers busy were spreading sand over the cold pipes.

Adjacent to the café is a ticket booth, skate rental area and spacious 3,000 sq ft mezzanine, as well as both an elevator and stairs connecting the lobby and mezzanine to the rink level below.

On the other side of the lobby is an expansive viewing lounge, where parents and guests will be able to relax. Magnant said from the lounge, parents and guests will be able to view the rink from stools or high tops, or do work while waiting for someone on the ice.

Better yet, he said there will be a self-serving beverage system with taps for beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic options.

There’s even a patio connected to the viewing lounge.

The rink level features six locker rooms with bathrooms and showers, plus a seventh, partial locker room for changing, referred to as a flex locker room.

Further along is the massive chiller, which is the machine that makes the ice, and housing for an Olympia ice-resurfacing machine.

There is room for stadium seating, which Magnant said will have for rows for a total of about 300 seats.

In addition there is a referee room and a space for video training, conference area with a big TV and space to do homework.

There is another room for players to work on skills including stick handling, passing and shooting, with space enough for eight kids and three nets.

 

The Ice

On Wednesday, as workers smoothed sand over a network of pipes, Magnant explained the process.

“It’s a cold brine that gets pushed through the pipes and creates an environment that is below freezing temperature. Once the sand is all in place, we flood it with water. And with pipes running cold, it becomes a massive block of frozen sand.”

Water is added to form layer after layer, until the ice is thick and ready to paint, with the first layer to be painted white.

Magnant said the inspiration for the new rink was the dearth of ice in the area. “That’s how this started three or four years ago. Calls for more ice were coming from people who love ice sports.”

“For us, this is an opportunity to be super efficient and bring a high quality experience and product for athletes, parents and guests,” Magnant said.