Opening a Rink Sports Bar and Restaurant

[Race4LastPlace 31]

Seperate here too. Full bar its actually nicer than the rink/facility. (had cones on the ice in the middle of our last game where there was no ice just holes). They actually have bocce and cornhole leagues (its upstairs overlooking one of the rinks). Nice set up. See,s pretty busy usually. Good luck to ya

Yikes.... a cornhole league.... :lol:

That is apparently the biggest best thing in the world here, its being played everywhere. I dont play much but jeez i played in elementary school. It's the official game to play with a beer in hand in Kentucky. I hate it here.

[Jordan 13]

I

love the idea, in theory. Do you really believe a USAH rink would allow a full service bar (beer, liquor) to operate in a facility serving USAH tournaments?

Hmm...in Toronto, and the surrounding area up here in the great white north, I would say that more rinks have bars in them than the number that don't.

The most successful ones seem to be the ones where they have a view of several ice pads.

On thought: since the space was dormant for some time, how about proposing a deal with the rink owners where you pay them a percentage of sales as opposed to a flat rate of rent. That way, it will be much easier to deal with seasonal fluctuations and you would have a much easier time making a go of it.

Also, work hard on your suppliers. They should be willing to give you promotional goods (beer companies), and decent payment terms. This is particularly true if you offer any degree of exclusivity.

[Too Old 1]

[JR Boucicaut 3803]

I've always wanted to have a pro shop attached to a cigar bar.

I love the idea, in theory. Do you really believe a USAH rink would allow a full service bar (beer, liquor) to operate in a facility serving USAH tournaments? We all remember the hockey dad massacre of a referee in Massachusetts. Could USAH really be willing to host any kind of games in a place where parents and spectators could find themselves loaded, furious, and willing to argue?

Happens all the time. The rink I used to work at in MI had a full-service bar.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Team Specials are great:

There is one place around here that does a great team special. For every $40 spent the team gets 1 pizza and 2 lbs of wings free.

If 8-10 guys are there...3 pitchers easily covers the first $40, and after that hitting $80 (or more) is easy...

We usually go in and order 2 specials right away...I don't think we've ever not covered it on the booze.

Some other places (and I'm sure this isn't uncommon) will keep track of what your team spends week to week in the season, and give you 10% of that amount toward your year end food/drink.

[Law Goalie 147]

Get in bed with the leagues. With youth, you'll get banquets, team dinners, etc. With adults, you'll get lots of post-game, MVP tie-ins, championship stuff; speaking as a goalie who knows how proud a team can be, a 'Shutout Special' might be a big draw. Put it to the leagues that your business will add value to their membership, and they'll be on board fast.

Taping the games is a genius idea. Get a digital cam, a little iMac, and give away DVD copies to any team that spends X or buys Y in the bar after the game. You can get blank DVD's for like 50 cents apiece these days. Guaranteed one of your servers will know how to do the mastering; just make it worth their while.

Buy a decent espresso rig and get someone who knows how to operate it, then let everyone know they can get their latte fix cheaply at the rink, whether it's a pre-game buzz or something to get the moms through early-morning practices and take one extra stop out of their trip.

[flyerman 0]

Great stuff guys! I really appreciate your ideas and advice.

How about a fresh, clever (but not too clever), non-cliche, easy-to-remember name for this establishment? Suggestions?

When Canlan operated the rink it was called Icesports, and the huge sign outside the front entrance still reads that, even though the official name of the rink has changed. It could still carry over though -- ICESPORTS BAR & GRILL -- but perhaps it's a little boring and too rooted in the past.

Also, in addition to the pool tables, video poker, big screen TV, and jukebox, have you guys ever seen a hockey shooting chamber in which you put money, pucks come out, and you get to shoot on a target?

We had a target chamber at CAN/AM in which you shot pucks at 9 illuminated boxes (3 rows of 3). When you hit the box, the light when out. Fastest to shoot all 9 won a price. But this was not coin operated.

This could be a lot of fun for drunken hockey players, but on the downside it could potentially break quickly and be very noisy.

[firestud17 0]

This might be a little random.

Think a lower scale (size) hockey town cafe. Absolutely perfect :)

[flyerman 0]

This might be a little random.

Think a lower scale (size) hockey town cafe. Absolutely perfect :)

Can you say more?

[sitzlejd 0]

I love the idea, in theory. Do you really believe a USAH rink would allow a full service bar (beer, liquor) to operate in a facility serving USAH tournaments? We all remember the hockey dad massacre of a referee in Massachusetts. Could USAH really be willing to host any kind of games in a place where parents and spectators could find themselves loaded, furious, and willing to argue?

The rink where I play has a full-service bar with beer and liquor and they just hosted the State Wars roller hockey tournament over the summer. They also host high school games for both roller and ice. When we won our beer league the prize was a tab at the bar (can't remember how much, I want to say $70).

When you get a beer they ask you if you want it for "here" (in the bar area, for which you're given a real glass) or "to go" (to carry around the building, for which you're given a plastic cup). Beer is allowed in the spectator areas of all the hockey pads. I've even seen beer pong in the bar at night. Don't how legal this all is but they seem to do very well. They also compete with a Pizza Hut in the building.

The food is typical bar food but it's pretty good and the prices are fair. The beer is on the cheaper side but I've never had their liquor so I can't speak for that.

[Gummer12 134]

A nice collection of hockey and other sports memorabilia nicely framed and (if smoking allowed) Very tightly sealed would also be a nice touch.

[-knowlzey- 0]

A nice collection of hockey and other sports memorabilia nicely framed and (if smoking allowed) Very tightly sealed would also be a nice touch.

No smoking in Canada.

Which Canlan arena is/was it? I believe all of them have a "Ice Sports" sign in front of them, at least the Oakville and the Etobicoke ones do.

[flyerman 0]

Name suggestions?

[Gummer12 134]

Shooters

Benders

_____ Lounge

Keggers

[sitzlejd 0]

Name suggestions?

The Sin Bin

[Chadd 916]

Name suggestions?

I believe you said it was upstairs?

Press box

Scouts?

Though you may have some NAMBLA members misunderstanding the name and showing up.

[Gummer12 134]

Snipers Top Shelf Grille/Lounge

[fieldofdreams 0]

AAHHHHH... the good old North American Marlon Brando Look Alikes?

[jrhky36 1]

I've always wanted to have a pro shop attached to a cigar bar.

I love the idea, in theory. Do you really believe a USAH rink would allow a full service bar (beer, liquor) to operate in a facility serving USAH tournaments? We all remember the hockey dad massacre of a referee in Massachusetts. Could USAH really be willing to host any kind of games in a place where parents and spectators could find themselves loaded, furious, and willing to argue?

Happens all the time. The rink I used to work at in MI had a full-service bar.

novi? if so what bar? or out at kensington?

as far as the OP hockeytown has been copywirtten by olympia enterinment. if you incorp look at doing so as a "c" corp. better tax breaks at least in the states.

as for names

the five hole

the red line

center ice pub and grub

lockeroom eatery

the house of hockey and food

[flyerman 0]

Good stuff! Keep 'em coming.

Something inclusive of hockey, ice, being upstairs; ideally something the general public can relate to and remember.

[interpathway 9]

How about something involving goal posts?

Bar and in?

Bar-Down (damn your upstairs locale)

I do like Top Shelf though. Press box fits the bill too.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Nothing like theft if the idea is good enough. The bar overlooking the rinks here is called the "Lookout Lounge"

[DoublinUp 0]

My grandmother owns 6 bars in Idaho, Kareokee and a Harley Davidson parking only sign and youll be set! lol, Seriously Make it family friendly throw a couple pinball machines in it, pool table! noones going to go to the ice rink to get black out drunk...(well atleast not too many people) so keep it family friendly and fun! Push one food item really well so you become known for one thing! somebody craves (ex:chicken wings) they come to your place! Good luck with everything...NHL Center ice is a plus too! None where has it where im living! I need to go to college in a hockey town!

[DEATHTRON 19]

I used to bartend at a rink bar, all I served was popcorn, pizza, and alcohol. There were 2 for 1 nights, as well as every team getting a free pitcher for coming up, which inevitably leads to more beer sales. Bar was called the "crossbar"....unfortunately, so was one gay bar in town. Ill lnever forget the time I told some dude I worked at the crossbar..that dude was part of nambla for sure.

Zach

[Law Goalie 147]

A nice collection of hockey and other sports memorabilia nicely framed and (if smoking allowed) Very tightly sealed would also be a nice touch.

Small tip: you can get single goalie pads (ie. left or right only) VERY cheaply from manufacturers (literally a couple of bucks). Ask your LHS, and even if they think you're nuts at first, have them call the pad companies. I'd be willing to bet Eagle has a bunch of very cool ones they'd shift for nothing. As an added bonus, nobody but the most insane gear-head will try to steal them.

Name suggestions?

The Press Box is great.

The Gondola --- would be a little more Foster Hewitt old-school.

The Rafters --- sounds good, as in, "I'll see you in The Rafters," and (speaking as someone who used to drink with ad boffs) having the word 'after' buried in your name will work magically for you as an after-game hang-out. Would also be an excuse to hang tons of jerseys... possibly from beer-league championship teams...

Actually, 'Foster Hewitt' would sound pretty good too - possibly obscure in the US, but neat. You'd need Foster's as your cheap draught, of course.

King Leary's --- if you want a literary touch (best hockey novel ever). Paul Quarrington would let you have the name for a trayful of Boilermakers.