The Rink at Rockefeller Center opened today for its 82nd season. Olympian and five-time Finnish National Champion Figure Skater Kiira Korpi, who now makes her home in New York City, hosted the ceremonial first skate of the most famous ice rink in the world, accompanied by rising child skaters from Ice Theatre of New York and Figure Skating in Harlem.
THE RINK AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER® OPENS FOR THE WINTER SEASON
Olympian and Five-Time Finnish National Champion Figure Skater, and
New Yorker, Kiira Korpi, Hosted the First Skate of the Season
NEW YORK: (Oct. 8, 2018) - The Rink at Rockefeller Center opened today for its 82nd season. Olympian and five-time Finnish National Champion Figure Skater Kiira Korpi, who now makes her home in New York City, hosted the ceremonial first skate of the most famous ice rink in the world, accompanied by rising child skaters from Ice Theatre of New York and Figure Skating in Harlem. Continuing its time-honored tradition as the first New York rink to open each year, the first skate signifies the start of winter festivities all around the city.
“Today was the first time that I’ve had the privilege to skate on the ice at the world-famous Rink at Rockefeller Center and it was truly amazing,” said Korpi. “Being a part of this iconic New York tradition that has taken place is an experience that I will never forget.”
Link to High-Resolution Photos: http://bit.ly/100818Patina_Allied_Wire Password: Rink (case sensitive)
Starting today, The Rink will be open to the public daily from 8:30 am until midnight through Easter (April 21, 2019). First designed as a temporary attraction, The Rink has evolved into one of the city’s most legendary landmarks and one of the top visited sites in Manhattan, hosting more than a quarter of a million skaters annually.
SPECIAL WINTERTIME EXPERIENCES
The Rink offers packaged skating and culinary experiences in collaboration with rink-side restaurants Rock Center Café and The Sea Grill, both of which feature front-row, floor-to-ceiling views of the skating action. Helmed by Executive Chef Andy Bennett, The Sea Grill is one of New York’s finest seafood restaurants, and a quintessential destination for holiday dining from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Rock Center Café has a more casual menu, with all-American dishes perfect for families, from breakfast to late-night. This season, special experiences include The Perfect Start: Breakfast and Skating, Afternoon Tea and Skating, Après Skate, late night Starlight Skate, and classic traditions such as the popular Breakfast with Santa, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Engagement on Ice, VIP Skating & Dinner, and more.
Making wintertime memories even more special is The Igloo, a reservation-only glass-encased and heated VIP lounge located rink-side at The Rink at Rockefeller Center. With velvety benches and sweet refreshments, The Igloo allows VIP guests to enjoy skip-the-line privileges, receive enhanced service with in-house Skate Concierges, and as a plush resting area to take breaks with plenty of water, hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies.
All packages can be booked in advance and reservations can be made online at therinkatrockcenter.com. General admission to The Rink is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, whenever The Rink is open to the public.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center is located on 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. For more information, visit therinkatrockcenter.com or call 212.332.7654.
For media requests, please contact Tanja Yokum at tyokum@patinagroup.com or Allied Global Marketing at rink@alliedim.com.
About The Rink at Rockefeller Center
The Rink at Rockefeller Center is a national treasure recognized throughout the world. It first opened on December 25, 1936 as the premier artificial outdoor skating pond built in New York City, complete with modern amenities: night skating, a heated house for changing skates, and piped-in music. The bronze gilded statue of the Greek legend Prometheus, sculpted by Paul Manship and set in a flowing fountain, looks over The Rink. The annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree stands on the west side of The Rink, a classic symbol of the holidays. Rink-side dining is a quintessential New York experience, at The Sea Grill and Rock Center Café restaurants.
8 October 2018
