Wallace Civic Center

Fitchburg, MA · Public skating times & prices

Fitchburg's 1970 Civic Center, a former rock venue now run by Fitchburg State as home of Falcons hockey.

Public skating at Wallace Civic Center: the next 7 days

Sunday, October 11

  • · Public Skate · $10

Monday, October 12

  • · Public Skate · $10

Tuesday, October 13

  • · Public Skate · $10

Wednesday, October 14

  • · Public Skate · $10

Thursday, October 15

  • · Public Skate

Friday, October 16

  • · Public Skate
Address
1000 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Phone
(978) 665-4936
Website
fmcicesports.com
Building entrance with a green sign reading "Fitchburg State College, George R. Wallace, Jr. Civic Center" over the glass doors, concrete steps in front. — Wallace Civic Center
Building entrance with a green sign reading "Fitchburg State College, George R. Wallace, Jr. Civic Center" over the glass doors, concrete steps in front. Photo: Found5dollar · Source · CC BY 3.0
Empty indoor ice sheet with a black-and-gold eagle logo at center ice, a rink-board sign reading "Captain Kenneth W. Gaetz, Sr. Arena" and "Fitchburg State", bleacher seating and championship banners on the wall behind. — Wallace Civic Center
Empty indoor ice sheet with a black-and-gold eagle logo at center ice, a rink-board sign reading "Captain Kenneth W. Gaetz, Sr. Arena" and "Fitchburg State", bleacher seating and championship banners on the wall behind. Photo: FMC Ice Sports · Source

Fitchburg's Civic Center, from Nirvana to the Falcons

The George R. Wallace Jr. Civic Center opened in 1970, funded by Fitchburg resident George Wallace. The 1,000-seat arena combined the Gaetz Arena, the Landry Arena, a planetarium and banquet rooms, and over the decades it hosted public skating, hockey leagues, figure skating, trade shows, a moon rock and hockey games featuring the Boston Bruins.

In the 1990s it drew a run of alternative rock shows by bands including Nirvana, Jane's Addiction, The Smashing Pumpkins, Fugazi, Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine. As the building fell into disrepair the planetarium closed and concerts faded, and in August 2007 the city transferred it to Fitchburg State University, which added new roofing, ice-making machinery and ventilation and turned the Landry Arena into an indoor turf field. FMC Ice Sports now manages the rink.

It is home to the Fitchburg State Falcons, Twin City Youth Hockey, the Junior Falcons, the Wallace Figure Skating Club and a Sunday adult league, along with the North Middlesex, Leominster, Fitchburg and Lunenburg high school teams.

Before you head out.

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

Admission

Public-skate admission is $10. Skaters ages 62 and over skate free with valid ID.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Skate rental costs $10 per pair, subject to availability.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Public-skating times vary. The arena’s page links to its full calendar and a separate public-skating calendar.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

FMC recommends helmets for public skating. Bring your own; helmets are not available to borrow, rent or buy at the rinks.

Source checked · · Official source

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