The First Five Years (cont'd)

Envisioned by Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. as a facility which would function year-round and which would make a profit starting with the first year, the rink, in fact, was less successful financially than predicted, partly due to seemingly always warmer than expected weather in the winter months, and partly to the fact that, despite the mayor's vision of a place which would host "off season roller-skating and in-line skating, as well as concerts, art shows and ballroom dancing," the rink has been mostly vacant outside the winter months.

Nevertheless, from its opening in November 1998 until the present, the skating rink has seen the emergence of an IceFire Winter Carnival -- as a counterpart to the WaterFire events -- with performances by well known ice skaters, including World Champion Brian Osner in 2003. It has also been hosting skating Santas, skating lessons, and, more recently, skateboarders. With a function that is constantly being explored, the Fleet Skating Center takes an active part in the revitalization of downtown and the redefinition of Providence as a city.

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