Chicago-area public skating does not have one standard ticket system. At one rink, you can register ahead or pay at the desk. At another, there are no advance public-skate reservations. A third sells tickets in a defined window before the session.
Those differences can matter more than the number of sheets in the building. For a family outing or a casual skate with friends, this shortlist compares McFetridge, the arena formerly known as Fifth Third, and Robert Crown in Evanston. It covers the city and a nearby suburb, with each recommendation tied to the kind of preparation the visit needs.
McFetridge for flexible ticket planning
McFetridge Sports Center allows public skaters to register in advance or pay at the front desk. That gives a group a choice between arranging the visit ahead and deciding closer to the session, subject to availability.
Its general public-skate admission distinguishes adults aged 13 and over from children 12 and under, with rental charged separately. The page also has an adult weekday rate. That narrower offer should not become the assumed price of a weekend family skate.
The practical reason to shortlist McFetridge is this relatively straightforward public-skate route. Read the dated calendar or seasonal flyer alongside the rates. Lessons and other ice activities share the facility, so a busy calendar is not the same thing as public access throughout the day.
Plan your visit Prices, rentals & more
- Admission
- Freestyle Ice drop-in sessions cost $8 per hour; skaters may also pre-pay $64 to reserve a weekly spot for the full 8-week session. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Skates & rentals
- Skate rental for public skate is $4, charged separately from admission. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Booking & check-in
- Public skate is drop-in or advance registration: patrons may register online ahead of time or pay at the front desk when they arrive. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Parking & arrival
- McFetridge has 150 free parking spaces in the lot next to the building, including 8 ADA spaces. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Accessibility
- The main entrance has ADA doors with operator buttons, the adjacent lot has 8 ADA parking spaces, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms serve the main lobby and both rinks. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
Blackhawks Ice Center for a walk-in public skate
The venue many skaters know as Fifth Third Arena now presents itself as Blackhawks Ice Center. Its official skating page says regular public skating is first come, first served, with no reservations or presale.
That makes arrival planning important if everyone in a group needs to skate together. It also makes an online search for a public-skate ticket potentially frustrating: the absence of an advance purchase button is consistent with the operator’s policy, rather than proof that the session is unavailable.
Rental is additional, and the operator lists separate child, senior and military admission categories. Non-skaters can watch public skating without an admission charge. That last distinction can help a mixed group compare its actual outing cost, instead of buying an imaginary ticket for every person who comes through the door.
Plan your visit Prices, rentals & more
- Admission
- Public skate admission is $14 general, $10 for children age 10 and under, and $10 for seniors and military members with ID. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Skates & rentals
- Skate rental is $6, charged on top of admission. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Booking & check-in
- Public skate has no reservations or presale tickets; admission is first-come, first-served, and every skater must pay, wear skates and display a wristband before stepping on the ice. Stick and puck sessions are also first-come, first-served (max 25 skaters) and don't require pre-registration. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Skating with children
- Non-skaters can watch for free. New or novice skaters are encouraged to wear a hockey or bicycle helmet with knee and elbow pads, though the rink does not sell or provide them. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Parking & arrival
- Blackhawks Ice Center offers on-site parking for guests. Source · 2026-09-16Review due · confirm the current policy
- Accessibility
- Guests with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to take part in a Blackhawks Ice Center event can email the Guest Services Manager at least five business days before the event. Source · 2026-09-16Review due · confirm the current policy
Robert Crown for a scheduled Evanston outing
The Robert Crown public-skating page describes a more defined booking window. Regular public-skate tickets go on sale seven days ahead, with online sales closing two hours before the session. Remaining tickets are sold at the front desk starting 30 minutes before it begins.
That is a useful system for someone who wants to settle a weekend plan ahead of time. Missing the online cutoff does not automatically establish that the session is sold out, but neither does it guarantee a walk-in place.
DJ skates have their own admission arrangements and are sold in person. Their prices also differ from ordinary public skating, and the annual pass does not cover them. Choose the event format first, then compare the correct ticket and rental cost.
Plan your visit Prices, rentals & more
- 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 · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- 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 · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- 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 · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- 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 · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- Parking & arrival
- The building and parking are accessible. Source · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
- 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 · 2026-10-11Review due · confirm the current policy
Pick an opening before comparing the brands
Use Chicago’s public-skate filter to find a date that works. Then decide whether McFetridge’s choice of advance or desk purchase, Blackhawks Ice Center’s walk-in system, or Robert Crown’s timed presale best fits the group.
There is no crowd ranking in this comparison. An arena’s connection to professional hockey does not tell us how many recreational skaters will arrive, and a low admission price does not guarantee a quiet session. The reliable starting point is the published public-skating event and its actual entry rules.