Local skating rink gets new name

EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A skating rink in the Village of East Aurora now has a new name thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York.

Many doubted the rink would last when it was built. Much to their surprise, four years later and the rink known to many as The Winter Classic remains open and filled with adult hockey, youth hockey, and open skaters.

John Cimperman from the Auroras Ice Association says, "Even our consultants didn't think a single-sheet rink could survive in East Aurora. or for that matter anywhere. We've definitely proved there's a lot of demand for the rink. This rink's been full from October to March every year."

The rink averages about 300 people every Saturday and Sunday night.

Now, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York is a big believer. They just worked out a naming rights sponsorship to the ice rink calling it The Healthy Zone Rink in line with the other Blue Cross Blue Shield zones in the region.

They are local spots promoting physical and mental health.

"East Aurora is so historic. And it's one of the founding places of the arts and crafts movement, so for them to bring this here to the community really aligns with what East Aurora is all about," says Gretchen Fierle from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The ice rink everyone thought would be too noisy for the village, is the place to be for people of all ages to have fun.