The city of Las Vegas has proposed a new recreational hockey facility in a part of town that lacks a spot to play the popular sport.
A demand for facilities is outpacing local supply at a time that hockey is experiencing a zenith, prompting a city search for a private partner to develop a public ice rink in the northwest valley, Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske said in a Monday interview.
Locally, the sport’s popularity is being bolstered by the Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights and the gold medals won by the U.S. men’s and women’s teams in the 2026 Winter Olympics, she said.
Two out of seven current ice hockey facilities in the valley are reserved for professional play only, including T-Mobile Arena, according to the city.
The city issued a request for proposal to bring an eighth hockey facility to the region. The formal process seeks a developer for a public-private partnership to build the facility on about 5 city-owned acres near the 215 Beltway and North Hualapai Way.
The inquiry has attracted so much interest that Las Vegas is extending the application process for weeks past the original April 15 deadline, Allen-Palenske said. A new deadline has not been set as of Monday.
The process will evaluate the bidders’ financial strength, community benefits and the quality of the proposed designs, the councilwoman explained.
Area residents currently have to travel more than 10 miles to the nearest ice rink, the city said.
In the request for proposal, Las Vegas said the location would offer good regional access and visibility. It added that the city would work with the chosen developer to rezone the 5.15 acres and coordinate a timely review and approvals.
“This site is ideal for new recreational infrastructure, aligning with growth,” the city said. “Its location near residential areas and strong regional access makes it suitable for new ice capacity to support youth and adult programs, reduce pressure on current facilities, and enhance the ice sports ecosystem in northwest Las Vegas.”
The two ice sheets at the proposed facility must meet NHL regulations and be available year-round for recreation access, and accommodate youth, adult and semi-professional training and competition, the city said.
Proposals have to account for sufficient parking and require a plan for long-term sustainability and diversified revenue streams, the city said.
Las Vegas projects that the location’s surrounding 10-mile area will exceed 704,000 residents within the next four years.
“These expanding population centers create a broad catchment area, ensuring year-round facility utilization for league play and tournaments,” the city said.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com
