Pop-Up Ice Rinks Bring Winter Sport to Unlikely City Squares

Temporary outdoor rinks are appearing in plazas and parking lots well outside traditionally cold climates.Portable refrigeration systems now make it possible to freeze a rink even in relatively mild winter weather, letting event organizers bring ice skating to city centers that never had a natural venue for it. Local business associations often sponsor the installations, betting that a festive rink will draw shoppers and diners during the slower winter months. Rental skate concessions and lesson programs have become a reliable part of the business model, turning a novelty attraction into a modest seasonal revenue stream.