The Delaware State Fair’s recent announcement regarding the closure of the beloved Centre Ice Rink has sparked an outpouring of disappointment from the community. In a statement released earlier this week, fair officials confirmed that the rink will shut its doors in May 2025, citing financial challenges, including an immediate need for $500,000 in repairs and additional long-term costs exceeding $1 million.
The news has been met with significant backlash on social media, with more than 650 comments flooding the Delaware State Fair’s announcement post on Facebook alone. Many residents and long-time patrons expressed deep frustration and disappointment.
“Regrettably, don’t be surprised when attendance for the Delaware State Fair is way down. Y’all are a joke,” wrote one Facebook user, adding that board members likely would have voted differently had their own children still been utilizing the facility.
Another commenter voiced frustration with the timing of the decision, stating, “I hope every person that is upset and appalled by this remembers when it’s fair time and they want our support. They entice us in with concert headlines, but I’ll never step foot in there again when they don’t care about the people of this state.”
For many in the community, the Centre Ice Rink has been more than just a facility, it’s been a home. One local who said she had been involved with the rink for nearly her entire life, shared her dismay at the board’s decision.
“After almost 23 years—not 20—the rink opened in 2002 when I was born. I started skating there at 5 years old. Sixteen years of my life have been spent there, from Learn to Skate to becoming a private coach,” She criticized the board for failing to consult the community before making a final decision, pointing out the difficulties of relocating skaters to alternative venues farther away.
In their official statement, Delaware State Fair representatives assured the public that the decision was not made lightly and that all options to keep the rink open were explored. The board said that transitioning the space into a multi-use event center will better serve the community’s needs in the long term.
“We recognize the tremendous impact this transition will have on the athletes, families, coaches, and organizations who have called the rink home for the past 20 years. We are committed to working with them to ensure they have all the information and support needed for a smooth transition to alternative skating venues. And we are keenly aware that this change is scary, will require some effort, and may be worrisome – but we are comforted to know that we have rink options within 25 miles of Center Ice Rink” the statement read.
Despite their assurances, many community members remain unconvinced, arguing that the board failed to engage stakeholders in meaningful discussions and that the closure represents a loss of an irreplaceable asset for future generations.
As the closure date approaches, local skating and hockey organizations are scrambling to find new venues for practices and competitions. Some have called for renewed fundraising efforts to save the rink. The fair addressed those efforts its statement saying “crowdsourcing and funding solutions do not provide the long-term sustainability required to keep the rink operational, and asking the community to raise such significant capital, year-over-year, was an ask too great. We are here to serve the community, not take from them.”
The Delaware State Fair’s statement closes with gratitude for those who supported the rink over the past two decades, but for many in the community, that gratitude falls flat. The overwhelming response on social media makes it clear that the Centre Ice Rink will be deeply missed, and questions remain about whether anything could have been done to prevent this outcome.