Robert Crown Community Center

Evanston, IL · Public skating times & prices

Two NHL-size sheets, a 200-meter running track and a branch library under one roof, completed in 2020.

Public skating at Robert Crown Community Center: the next 7 days

Sunday, October 11

  • · Public Skate · $10

Tuesday, October 13

  • · Public Skate · $10
  • · Public Skate · $10

Wednesday, October 14

  • · Public Skate · $10

Thursday, October 15

  • · Public Skate · $10

Friday, October 16

  • · Public Skate · $10
  • · Public Skate · $10

Saturday, October 17

  • · Public Skate · $10

Sunday, October 18

  • · Public Skate · $10
Address
1801 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202
Hours
Daily, varies by session — see schedule below
Website
cityofevanston.org
The glazed two-storey west elevation and white brick arena wall seen across the paved courtyard, with young trees in circular grates and a bench along the edge — Robert Crown Community Center
The glazed two-storey west elevation and white brick arena wall seen across the paved courtyard, with young trees in circular grates and a bench along the edge Photo: City of Evanston · Source
A public skate seen from the seating bowl — Robert Crown Community Center
A public skate seen from the seating bowl Photo source: cityofevanston.org
Rink 1 seen from the top of the seating bank: the whole sheet with a youth hockey game in progress, the spectator seats, the scoreboard and the netting above the boards — Robert Crown Community Center
Rink 1 seen from the top of the seating bank: the whole sheet with a youth hockey game in progress, the spectator seats, the scoreboard and the netting above the boards Photo: Ryan Dickey · Source · CC BY 2.0

Evanston's two-sheet community center, completed in 2020

The original Robert Crown Community Center was built in Evanston in 1974, its construction largely funded by a lead donation from the Crown Family. Its replacement was completed in 2020 and carried a $53 million guaranteed price, funded in part with up to $15 million in private donations, sponsorships and institutional program partnerships.

The 130,000-square-foot building hugs the west boundary of Crown Park, buffering it from Dodge Avenue, and glass runs around the entire perimeter at grade level. Inside are two NHL rinks at 85 by 200 feet, a 200-meter running track, a gymnasium, a preschool and a branch of the Evanston Public Library. Evanston Ice fields the synchronized skating teams here, sponsoring Aspire 2, Aspire 3, Preliminary and Pre-Juvenile teams in the 2024-25 season, and the Evanston Youth Hockey Association, known as the Jr. Wildkits, is the community's Tier 3 club.

Both sheets were lost in 2025 after routine maintenance by an outside vendor led to an unexpected mechanical failure, and the rinks stayed unusable until early April. The center also holds Nutcracker On Ice, now marking its 50th anniversary, and the design won an AIA Chicago Merit Award. Rink temperature averages around 60 degrees.

Before you head out.

Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.

Admission

General admission: skaters 17 years and under $6, skaters 18 years+ $10. DJ Skate admission: 17 and under $7, 18+ $11. An annual pass is $110, valid one year from purchase, and cannot be used at special skating sessions including DJ skate nights.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Skate rental is $4 per pair at general and DJ Skate sessions. Figure skates come in child 8 through adult 14 and hockey skates in child 8 through adult 16.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Tickets can be bought up to seven days ahead online or by calling 847-448-8258, with pre-purchase closing two hours before each session; any remaining tickets go on sale in person 30 minutes before the session, which is also when online buyers check in.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

Skaters may not carry children or items such as phones, cameras or handbags while skating, and no more than two people may skate together. Everyone must pay the fee or show an annual pass; pass holders and anyone not renting skates need a wristband from check-in to get on the ice.

Source checked · · Official source

Parking & arrival

The building and parking are accessible.

Source checked · · Official source

Accessibility

The centre lists an accessible building and accessible parking. To request an accommodation for a programme, service or activity, call 847.866.2919 to make an ADA service request or file a 311 Request for Service.

Source checked · · Official source

A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.