The following is a press release written by Julie Ramey for the City of Bloomington.
Following the early seasonal closure of the Frank Southern Ice Arena after an ammonia leak in March, Parks and Recreation has completed an initial assessment of repairs needed to safely resume operations and is preparing for broader community discussions about the future of the facility.
The ammonia leak occurred two days before the scheduled end of the 2025–26 skating season and prompted a closure of the facility out of concern for participant and staff safety. Since that time, Parks and Recreation staff have worked with qualified contractors and technical experts to evaluate the arena’s aging refrigeration infrastructure and operational needs. A Report on Frank Southern Ice Arena: History, Impacts, Risks, and Options was presented to the Board of Park Commissioners at their March 23, 2026 meeting.
The Department plans to move forward with a contract for repairs identified as necessary to safely operate the facility and anticipates reopening the Frank Southern Ice Arena in Fall 2026.
At the same time, a broader look at the facility’s future is needed as the City begins implementing its recently completed five-year master plan, which identifies systemwide capital priorities. That discussion includes consideration of ongoing maintenance and capital needs, operational costs, demand for ice sports and recreation opportunities, and the challenges of maintaining an aging facility within existing budget constraints.
To begin that discussion, Parks and Recreation has invited representatives from local stakeholder groups and user organizations to participate in an upcoming meeting focused on future ice arena operations and community priorities. Additional opportunities for broader community input and discussion are expected to follow.
“Frank Southern Ice Arena has served generations of Bloomington residents and remains an important recreation facility for many members of our community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Tim Street. “As we move forward, we want to have thoughtful and transparent conversations about the facility’s needs, and what level of capital investment is needed to extend service into the future–especially considering other Parks and Recreation facilities in need of similar investments.”
The Frank Southern Ice Arena hosts recreational skating, youth and adult hockey, figure skating, learn-to-skate programs, and other community recreation activities.
Additional information about stakeholder meetings and future public engagement opportunities will be shared as details become available. Sign up to receive emails about upcoming meetings and future discussions about Frank Southern Ice Arena.
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About the Frank Southern Ice Arena
The Frank Southern Ice Arena, named in honor of long-time Board of Park Commissioners member Frank Southern, held its grand opening in December 1967. It opened as a covered, outdoor ice surface, with ice in the winter and activities such as roller skating and dances in the warmer months. The facility was enclosed, and locker rooms added, in 1987. The City proposed closing the ice arena in 1997, but ice enthusiasts lobbied for a feasibility study, which showed there was a market for an ice facility in Bloomington. Renovations were made to the ice arena in 2001, and in 2011, following a roof collapse over the arena's office and skate storage area. The Frank Southern Ice Arena is home to Bloomington Blades travel hockey, the IU and Bloomington Figure Skating Clubs, and IU men's and women's ice hockey. The facility is open during the summer months with no ice and hosts broomball and lacrosse leagues and special events.
