An in-line hockey rink is coming to eastern Prince William County, courtesy of a multifaceted partnership between the county and the Washington Capitals, among other entities.
The Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve both a lease amendment with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s Hylton Club in Woodbridge and a memorandum of understanding with the Capitals related to the project. A tentative opening date is set for spring 2026.
An in-line, or dry, hockey rink is essentially a rollerblading rink for street hockey and other wheeled sports.
The lease area is just over six acres and will be located adjacent to the Hylton Club at 5070 Dale Blvd. in Dale City.
Supervisors on both sides of the political aisle conveyed their excitement for the new rink during Tuesday’s meeting, with Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, a Republican, noting the absence of a taxpayer burden within the project. The county is using $350,000 in Neabsco District proffer funds to cover its share of the cost.
Neabsco Supervisor Victor S. Angry, a Democrat whose district includes the property, expressed special praise for those who spearheaded the effort.
“We’ll be on our way to making some magic for a lot of young people,” Angry said, commending the efforts of R.J. Zeigler, managing partner of Innovative Sports Management and owner of the Prince William Ice Center, whom Angry called a “hometown hero.”
A aerial map of the new in-line hockey rink’s location, adjacent to the existing Prince William Ice Center.
Prince William County
Speaking to InsideNoVa, Zeigler said the approval was “a long time coming,” as the proposal went through various stages and roadblocks – including funding issues with the National Hockey League – over a process lasting upwards of four years.
Zeigler said the most rewarding part of the journey will be the community impact.
“This was a situation where the county and our private business, as well as the Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League, George Mason University, have all kind of come together,” Zeigler said, “and found a way to create another place that kids in this community are going to be able to come and play sports and learn life lessons – just to enjoy playing outside, being off their screens and doing something athletic.”
According to Zeigler, the rink will cater to all ages and no single demographic.
“This is something where, obviously, the proffer funds from the county come into play,” Zeigler said. “But the Washington Capitals, Monumental Sports, George Mason University, the George Mason Alumni Foundation, Baker Donelson – there has been money that’s been raised for this project from numerous [sources].”
According to county documents, the Washington Capitals are providing a $200,000 donation toward the project’s total $550,000 estimated cost – with the donation made possible “with additional support from Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, Baker Donelson, George Mason University, George Mason University Ice Hockey Alumni Foundation, and the National Hockey League.”
Seth Hendler-Voss, the county’s director of parks and recreation, echoed Zeigler’s sentiment and told InsideNoVa the collaborative aspect of the plan has been key.
“One of our superpowers here in Prince William County is our ability to foster great partnerships,” Hendler-Voss said. “And it requires good partners to create good partnerships, and the ice zone is definitely in that category. By coming up with a creative, clever partnership, we’re able to really leverage the taxpayer dollars to do more than what we would be able to do otherwise, and really [utilize] our ability to think outside the box.”
Hendler-Voss added Zeigler has been in discussions with the Hylton Club about free and reduced programming at the rink, with further potential existing for additional partnerships with the county covering other sports and new facilities.
“I just want to provide a word of gratitude to the Boys and Girls Club,” Hendler-Voss said. “They’ve been excellent partners, and they’re doing a really good job over there trying to expand their programs – and this is a great way for them to achieve that without costing them anything other than allowing us to put this rink there in their lease property.”
According to discussions during Tuesday’s board meeting, the only general fund cost for the county linked to this project will be an estimated $10,000 for insurance.