It was the only place to skate for miles. Honestly, if you grew up in Southern Delaware, the ice rink harrington delaware—officially known as the Centre Ice Rink—wasn't just a building with a frozen floor. It was a second home for kids who spent their Saturdays in hockey pads and a sanctuary for figure skaters who knew every chip and scratch in that ice.
Then everything changed.
In early 2025, the Delaware State Fair board dropped a bombshell. They decided to close the rink for good. By May 2025, the Zamboni took its final lap, the cooling systems were shut down, and a huge community of skaters was left basically stranded. It’s a mess, quite frankly. People are still trying to figure out where to go.
Why the Harrington Ice Rink Actually Closed
Money. It always comes down to that, doesn't it? The fair board pointed to "unsustainable and compounding costs." Specifically, they were looking at a bill of over $500,000 just for immediate repairs to the mechanical systems. If they wanted to keep it running long-term? That would’ve been over a million bucks.
For a 49,000-square-foot facility built back in 2002, the wear and tear finally caught up. In late November 2024, the rink suffered major mechanical failures. It was the beginning of the end.
What’s Happening to the Building Now?
The fair isn't tearing it down. Instead, they’re turning it into a "multi-use event center." Think concerts, community gatherings, and agricultural exhibits. You've probably seen it used for the 4-H and FFA displays during the fair in July anyway, but now that’s going to be its year-round identity. No more ice.
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Where Everyone is Skating Now
If you're looking for the ice rink harrington delaware today, you’re out of luck. It's gone. But the community isn't giving up. A group called Miracle Ice Arena actually bought the equipment from the Harrington rink—the chillers, the boards, the whole kit—and they’ve got it stored in shipping containers.
They are currently raising $2 million to build a new two-sheet arena in Georgetown. The goal is to have the first sheet of ice ready by the fall of 2026. Until then, skaters are driving an hour or more to places like:
- The Patriot Ice Center in Newark (about 55 miles away).
- Talbot County Community Center in Easton, Maryland.
- The Skating Club of Wilmington.
It’s a long haul. For parents who used to drive ten minutes to Harrington, a two-hour round trip for a 6:00 AM practice is a brutal reality.
The Drama with the Delaware Thunder
You can't talk about the rink's history without mentioning the Delaware Thunder. They were a professional team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) that called Harrington home starting in 2019. Those games were electric. The fans in Harrington were loud, proud, and they filled that 700-seat arena past capacity regularly.
But the relationship between the team and the fair board soured. By 2023, the Thunder lost their contract. Some locals argue that losing a pro tenant who sold out games was the first domino to fall in the rink's financial decline. Whether that's true or just local gossip, the atmosphere in that building was never quite the same after the Thunder left.
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Practical Advice for Local Skaters
If you were a regular at the Harrington rink and you're feeling lost, here's the deal. There are zero indoor ice rinks left in Kent or Sussex County right now.
- Check the Dover Civic Arena Progress: There’s been talk for years about a new rink at Schutte Park in Dover. Since the Harrington closure, those talks have heated up again.
- Support Miracle Ice: If you want ice back in the area, the Georgetown project is the most realistic shot. They are actively looking for donations and community support to get that first sheet open by late 2026.
- Carpool to Newark or Easton: Most of the youth programs (like the Generals) have had to migrate. Connect with other parents to split those long drives.
The loss of the ice rink harrington delaware left a massive hole in the local sports scene. It’s a reminder that these community hubs are fragile. For now, the skates are staying in the closet or getting a lot of miles on the highway.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close eye on the Miracle Ice Arena fundraising updates if you want to see ice return to the region by the 2026 season. If you need immediate ice time, the Patriot Ice Center in Newark remains the most consistent option for public skating and organized hockey in the state, though you'll need to check their digital calendar daily as their schedule fluctuates heavily with club team bookings.