Cedar Rapids Ice Arena | Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, also known as ImOn Ice Arena, is the premier ice sports and entertainment facility in Cedar Rapids. It serves as both a home for competitive hockey and a community hub for recreational skating, making it one of the city’s most versatile athletic venues.

Historical Background
The arena opened in 2000, built to provide Cedar Rapids with a modern ice facility capable of hosting both professional-level hockey and public recreational events. From the start, it became the home of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, a junior hockey team in the United States Hockey League (USHL).

Over the years, the arena has grown into a central part of the community, hosting not just sporting events but also concerts, shows, and family activities. In 2016, local telecommunications provider ImOn Communications acquired naming rights, leading to its current name: ImOn Ice Arena.

Architecture and Layout
The arena was designed as a mid-sized, multipurpose facility, seating about 4,000 spectators for hockey games, with flexible configurations for other events. Its design emphasizes both the fan experience and community accessibility.

Key features include:

Main Ice Rink, regulation-sized for hockey and skating.

Seating Bowl, providing close sightlines and an intimate atmosphere for fans.

Second Ice Sheet, added to expand recreational use, practices, and youth programs.

Concession Areas, party rooms, and gathering spaces for events.

Training and locker facilities, supporting both the RoughRiders and visiting teams.

Its size strikes a balance: large enough to host major events but small enough to maintain a strong local atmosphere.

Sports and Entertainment Role
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders are the arena’s anchor tenant, drawing enthusiastic crowds and giving the city a distinct hockey identity. Known for their fast pace and passionate fan base, RoughRiders games have become a staple of Cedar Rapids sports culture.

Beyond hockey, the arena supports:

Youth and high school hockey programs

Figure skating clubs and competitions

Public skating sessions

Learn-to-skate and hockey development classes

It has also hosted concerts, trade shows, and special events, taking advantage of its adaptable floor plan.

Community Significance
The arena is more than a sports venue-it is a community gathering space. By offering public skating, youth leagues, and family-friendly programs, it introduces thousands of residents to ice sports while serving as a recreational outlet throughout the year.

It also plays a role in Cedar Rapids’ regional identity, highlighting the city as a destination for competitive hockey and winter sports in the Midwest. The presence of a USHL team elevates the arena’s profile, making it a stepping stone for athletes on their way to college or professional hockey.

Modern Identity
Today, Cedar Rapids Ice Arena (ImOn Ice Arena) is recognized as both a sports landmark and a community centerpiece. It blends the excitement of high-level junior hockey with inclusive recreational programming, keeping ice sports accessible while giving the city a professional-grade facility.

It remains a defining feature of Cedar Rapids’ cultural and athletic landscape, embodying both the thrill of competition and the spirit of community recreation.