Key Takeaways
- Nicholas Family of Companies opened the 103,000-square-foot Rosemont Ice Arena on November 5, marking the first of three Chicago-area ice facilities the organization has announced in the past year
- The $34.5 million twin-sheet facility adds to the company’s existing 17-acre Nicholas Sportsplex, giving the family-owned operator control of five ice sheets in northwest Chicagoland
- USA Hockey reported 396,525 registered members for the 2024-25 season, a 12% increase from 2022-23 and the third consecutive year of growth
- Over 90,000 girls under age 18 were registered to play hockey in the United States during the 2023-24 season, nearly matching Canada’s participation numbers
- The Nicholas portfolio expansion includes the new Rosemont facility, an 86,261-square-foot Elk Grove Ice Arena under development, and the recently acquired 63,000-square-foot Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills
A Regional Ice Infrastructure Play
The Nicholas Family of Companies celebrated the grand opening of Rosemont Ice Arena on November 5, 2025, adding a $34.5 million, 103,000-square-foot twin-sheet facility to its growing portfolio of Chicago-area ice venues. The opening positions the Mount Prospect-based, family-owned organization as a dominant player in regional youth hockey infrastructure.
The Rosemont facility is the first completed project in a three-arena expansion announced over the past year. Nicholas Family of Companies is also developing an 86,261-square-foot Elk Grove Ice Arena and recently acquired the 63,000-square-foot Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills. Combined with the company’s existing Nicholas Sportsplex in Mount Prospect, which operates three ice sheets, the organization will control at least five ice surfaces across northwest Chicagoland.
Nick Papanicholas Jr., CEO and Managing Director of Nicholas Family of Companies, said in the announcement: “The opening of Rosemont Ice Arena reflects our commitment to creating spaces that strengthen connection and community. This facility offers a template for future projects and demonstrates what can be accomplished through strong public-private partnership.”
Facility Mix: Professional Practice Space and Youth Programming
Rosemont Ice Arena serves multiple user groups through a schedule that allocates ice time across professional, youth, and adult programs. The Chicago Wolves professional hockey team will use the facility for daytime practices before home games at nearby Allstate Arena. Youth hockey organizations including the Chicago Mission girls’ hockey club, Chicago Edge Skating Academy, Northwest Chargers, and York High School programs have secured dedicated ice time. Adult hockey leagues will use evening slots, and the facility will offer designated public open skate sessions.
The facility is located steps from Allstate Arena and three miles from O’Hare International Airport, positioning it for regional and national hockey tournaments alongside local programming.
Wendell Young, Vice Chairman and Governor of the Chicago Wolves, stated: “A big part of an organization is its environment and to have a first-class facility like this is very conducive to developing players as they strive to take the next step in their careers.”
Construction was completed by Nicholas & Associates, the family’s construction management arm, with design work by architectural firm ARCON Associates. The facility includes amenities beyond standard ice rinks: a sauna, steam room, cold plunge, film room and team lounge for the Chicago Wolves; an elevated sports bar and supper club called Hatty’s Club with floor-to-ceiling views of both rinks; a grab-and-go food area called Market by Hatty’s; a lounge; and a physical therapy clinic.
Operating Structure Through Public-Private Partnership
The Rosemont facility operates under a public-private partnership between the Village of Rosemont and Nicholas Family of Companies. Spectate Group, the family’s sports and recreation operating division, will manage the year-round facility and pay the Village an annual licensing fee. Under the agreement, both parties retain the ability to sell naming rights and sponsorships inside and outside the building.
This structure allows Nicholas Family of Companies to expand its operational footprint while municipalities avoid the capital costs and operational risks of owning ice facilities. Spectate Group also operates the Nicholas Sportsplex, giving the organization experience managing multi-sheet facilities with food and beverage components.
The partnership model may serve as a framework for the company’s Elk Grove Ice Arena development, though specific details on that facility’s operating structure have not been announced.
Youth Hockey Growth Creates Facility Demand
The Nicholas expansion comes during a period of sustained growth in youth hockey participation. USA Hockey reported 396,525 registered members for the 2024-25 season, representing a 12% increase from 2022-23 and the third consecutive year of growth.
Girls’ hockey shows particularly strong momentum. During the 2023-24 season, over 90,000 girls under age 18 were registered to play in the United States, almost matching Canada’s participation levels according to USA Hockey data. The Rosemont facility will host multiple girls’ hockey teams and organizations, including the Chicago Mission girls’ hockey club.
Papanicholas said: “Expanding opportunities for youth hockey programs to play on high-quality ice while creating a positive impact for families, players and surrounding businesses was always our goal.”
The participation data suggests sustained demand for ice time in youth hockey markets, though facility economics depend on maintaining diverse user groups beyond youth programs. The Nicholas model incorporates professional team practice time, adult leagues, public skating, and tournament hosting to maximize ice utilization.
Strategic Consolidation in a Fragmented Market
The Chicago ice arena market has historically been fragmented across municipal facilities, park districts, and independent operators. Nicholas Family of Companies’ expansion creates a portfolio approach where the organization controls multiple facilities within a 20-mile radius, potentially allowing for coordinated scheduling, shared staff resources, and negotiating power with hockey associations and tournament organizers.
The Rosemont facility is located in northwest Chicagoland, close to Nicholas Sportsplex in Mount Prospect. The Elk Grove Ice Arena under development sits between these two facilities. The Glacier Ice Arena acquisition in Vernon Hills extends the portfolio north along the I-94 corridor. This geographic clustering concentrates the company’s assets in suburbs with access to O’Hare Airport and major highways.
For youth hockey organizations and figure skating clubs seeking consistent ice time, the Nicholas portfolio offers potential advantages in scheduling flexibility and facility access. The company’s construction background through Nicholas & Associates also gives it vertical integration in facility development, potentially reducing costs and timelines compared to operators who contract external builders.
Looking Ahead: Completion Timeline and Market Positioning
The Nicholas Family of Companies has not announced a completion date for the Elk Grove Ice Arena, and specific operational details for the Vernon Hills facility following its acquisition have not been disclosed. The pace at which these facilities come online will determine how quickly the organization can leverage its multi-facility model.
The Rosemont opening establishes a baseline for Nicholas Family of Companies’ facility standards and operating approach. Whether the company pursues additional acquisitions or developments beyond the three announced projects will depend on available properties, capital deployment strategy, and performance of the current portfolio.
For the Chicago youth hockey market, the expansion provides additional ice capacity during a growth period. The challenge for all operators will be sustaining participation levels and diverse programming if hockey growth slows or if facility supply exceeds demand in specific geographic submarkets.
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