BankNewport buys naming rights
to Providence’s downtown ice rink

WENDY KAGAN, executive vice president and director of employee and community engagement at BankNewport, rides one of the ice bumper cars at the Providence Rink, which was recently renamed as the BankNewport City Center – Providence Rink after the bank purchased the naming rights. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE – BankNewport paid $275,000 for a five-year contract to purchase the naming rights of the city’s downtown ice rink. The former Alex & Ani City Center will now be known as the BankNewport City Center – Providence Rink.

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and other city officials last week announced the name change and opened the 2020 season at the rink.

The coming winter season will include lots of public skating and a Winter Lights Market on Dec. 6.

“The opportunity to have BankNewport’s brand presence in downtown Providence is the perfect complement to our entry into the Providence metro and statewide markets,” said BankNewport CEO and President Sandra J. Pattie.

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“This truly is one of the happiest times of the year, and the opening of the Providence Rink is the kick-off to the start of our holiday season,” City Council President Sabina Matos said in a statement.

Weather permitting, the rink will be open for ice skating daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. General admission for ice skating is $7 for adults and $4 for seniors, children under 12 and military veterans. Ice skate rentals are $7 per person. Season passes are $90 for adults, $250 for families of four and $50 for children, seniors and military.

Ice bumper cars, introduced a few years ago, will be available Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $12 per person for 15 minutes.

As part of the annual Winter Lights Market, the Providence Rink will host the Pride on Ice and toy drive on Dec. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to benefit the children and families of Family Service of Rhode Island in exchange for free entry to the Providence Rink with any paid skate rental.

“The BankNewport City Center has become a year-round destination in the heart of our DownCity arts and entertainment district,” said Stephanie Fortunato, director of the city’s Department of Art, Culture + Tourism. “Our annual Winter Lights Market and downtown tree lighting ceremonies are a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit.”

Mary Lhowe is a PBN contributing writer. 

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