Key Takeaways
- Bond Sports and SUB-ZERO have integrated their platforms to connect scheduling, ice maintenance, locker room coordination, and resurfacing workflows inside one operational ecosystem.
- Bond has been building technology specifically for ice rinks for more than five years, with every revenue line at a typical rink now managed through the platform.
- The integration creates two concrete revenue opportunities for operators: automation-driven cost reduction and new sponsorship inventory on locker room displays and dasher boards.
- Frozen Pond Arena reports improved communication, streamlined dressing room assignments, and new revenue streams since going live with the integration.
- Bond is offering free access to SUB-ZERO’s digital log module as an entry point, with additional technology partnerships planned.
Ice rinks are not like other sports facilities. A single building might host league play, tournaments, public sessions, youth camps, and adult leagues within the same 24-hour window, each with its own scheduling demands, staffing needs, and ice maintenance requirements. Managing all of it has historically meant stitching together separate systems and hoping the communication holds.
Bond Sports and SUB-ZERO are betting that does not have to be the case.
The two companies announced an integration connecting Bond’s facility management platform with SUB-ZERO’s ice maintenance and arena operations software, creating a direct data link between booking schedules and ice operations teams. For operators, the practical result is a single environment where resurfacing schedules, locker room assignments, and booking calendars move together in real time.
We spoke with Andy Oelker, VP of Sales at Bond Sports, about what is driving the build and what it means for the rink operators running these businesses every day.
Five Years of Building for the Most Complex Facility in Youth Sports
Bond’s focus on ice is not new. The company has been developing technology specifically for rinks for more than five years, and according to Oelker, that focus is not going anywhere.
“In order to serve all of the different youth programming an ice rink offers, it takes an incredible amount of platform features and functionality,” Oelker said. “One of Bond’s core value propositions is that we unify platforms for our partners, enabling staff and consumers to operate on one platform.”
That philosophy shaped how Bond approached the SUB-ZERO partnership. Rather than building ice maintenance tools internally, Bond integrated directly with a company already doing that work at a high level across North America and internationally.
“As many of our rink partners and the industry were interested in the great work that SUB-ZERO is doing, we saw this as the perfect time to integrate,” Oelker said.
Zack Tarantino of SUB-ZERO framed the collaboration in similar terms. “Efficient communication between scheduling and ice maintenance teams is critical to running a successful facility,” he said. “By partnering with Bond Sports, we’re helping rinks eliminate manual processes and enhancing operational efficiency.”
What the Integration Actually Does for an Operator
At Frozen Pond Arena, the impact has been immediate. Dean Whittingham, co-owner of the facility, described the shift from running separate systems to having bookings and operations communicate in real time.
“The calendar and reporting features, dressing room assignments, and SMS notifications have improved communication and even created new revenue opportunities,” Whittingham said. “This integration doesn’t just save time. It raises the standard of how we operate.”
On the ice maintenance side, Lead Operator Levi Rodgers put it in operational terms. “My flood logs are now directly connected to the actual booking schedule, so there’s no guessing or backtracking. Everything is documented, accurate, and easy to reference.”
Oelker expanded on what the revenue side looks like in practice. The integration creates two distinct levers. The first is cost reduction through automation, eliminating manual communication between departments and reducing the operational drag that drives up ice costs. The second is new inventory.
“The live schedule data we are providing at the rink is also being leveraged for things like sponsorships on locker room displays and dasher boards,” Oelker said. “Two different levers, but both directly impacting the bottom line.”
An Operating System, Not Just a Platform
When asked where Bond draws the line between being a scheduling and payments platform versus a full operating system for a facility, Oelker did not hedge.
“Already today, every revenue line at an ice rink is being managed through Bond,” he said. “We certainly see ourselves going deeper to support all operations of our partners, and this partnership is a continued step towards Bond doing that.”
Marc Rothschild, co-founder of Bond Sports, framed it around what that means for the people working inside these facilities. “Bond Sports is committed to simplifying everything for our facility partners and making things easy for staff, so that they can continue to provide great services to their community,” he said. “This partnership achieves that result, driving a more seamless flow of data and greater operational efficiency for our rink partners.”
Breaking Down the Technology Adoption Barrier
Ice rink operators have historically been slower to adopt technology than operators in other facility verticals. Oelker, who has worked with rinks in sports technology for more than 13 years, has a clear read on why.
“They just need a compelling reason to change. But if presented with one, they will make the best decisions for their customers, staff, and ownership.”
To lower the entry point, Bond is offering free access to SUB-ZERO’s digital log module as part of the integration. It is a concrete first step for facilities that want to modernize operations without committing to a full platform overhaul upfront.
What Comes Next
The Bond and SUB-ZERO integration is not the end of the partnership roadmap. Oelker confirmed that additional technology partnerships are in the pipeline.
“We’re absolutely just getting started. We have several other partnerships set to be announced moving forward that will continue to position Bond as the one-stop solution for our ice rink partners. Wherever we can find value, whether through building or through partnership, that’s where we’ll invest.”
For ice rink operators managing the complexity of multi-use facilities, that direction is worth watching. Bond has spent five years building for this vertical. The SUB-ZERO integration is the clearest signal yet of how far that build is intended to go.
Source: Bond Sports and SUB-ZERO Partnership Announcement, Bond Sports, March 27, 2026
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