SPF, the recreation group behind several of Chicago's indoor pickleball venues, has bought Johnny's IceHouse East in the West Loop, the long-running rink just a short walk from the United Center. The deal sets up a rare shift from ice to paddle sports in a corridor that has been rapidly redeveloped, although the current operators will keep running the rink under a lease that stretches into mid-June 2026.
Pickleball firm moves into prime West Loop turf
The buyer is SPF, a recreation group that runs indoor pickleball and multisport locations around the city, according to Crain's Chicago Business. SPF's website lists Chicago sites in Lincoln Park, Old Irving Park, and Kenwood and promotes year-round court programming and leagues. The Johnny's IceHouse East purchase pushes SPF's footprint into one of the city's most valuable near-downtown neighborhoods.
Rink's place in Chicago hockey
Johnny's IceHouse East has for years hosted adult and youth hockey leagues along with learn-to-skate programs, according to the rink's own site. Players and league organizers have warned that losing an inner-city sheet would squeeze already tight ice time across Chicago. The building first hit the market in 2020, and early coverage noted that any buyer was likely to end ice operations at the site, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
How the deal came together
According to Crain's Chicago Business, a venture controlled by the Moro family paid about $2.8 million for the property in 2004, then refinanced it with a $2.9 million loan in 2021. As of February 18, the sale to SPF had not yet appeared in Cook County property records. Crain's reports that owner Lisa Moro's group sold the roughly 22,000-square-foot building to SPF, and that the rink operators are leasing it back through June 15, 2026. The parties have not disclosed the purchase price.
What could be next for Johnny's East site
When brokers first brought Johnny's East to market, they pitched the building as a redevelopment play, and sources in 2020 said they were seeking around 600 dollars per square foot, more than 13 million dollars in total, highlighting how valuable West Loop land has become, as reported by The Real Deal. Community hockey advocates say they plan to push for continued access to public ice elsewhere as the neighborhood shifts and private recreation outfits expand. For now, the rink continues to operate under the lease while SPF and local officials sort out longer term plans for the property.
Skaters and leagues can still reserve ice time while the leaseback is in place, and this story will be updated as SPF and public officials release further details on the building's future and any changes to community programming.
