An arena or ice rink is a recreational facility with an ice surface for hockey, figure skating, public skating, and other ice sports. In Canada, where hockey is deeply embedded in culture, municipal arenas serve as community gathering places. Municipalities typically build and operate arenas, subsidizing them through taxes because user fees alone rarely cover operating costs including ice maintenance, utilities, and staffing. Arena scheduling balances competing demands from minor hockey leagues, figure skating clubs, adult recreational leagues, and public skating sessions. Many communities face decisions about aging arena infrastructure requiring expensive renovations or replacement.