The Anaheim Ducks and their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, are throwing their weight behind a plan for a three-rink ice sports complex in Escondido that would become the largest ice facility in San Diego County. Backers say the center would double as a permanent training home for the Gulls and a regional hub for youth and adult hockey, figure skating, sled hockey and public skating. Early estimates call for a main sheet with seating for roughly 2,000 to 3,000 fans, with construction projected to take about three years if the city signs off. Escondido officials are expected to review a memorandum of understanding on the proposal this week.
As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the concept calls for three ice sheets anchored by a main arena in the low-thousands capacity range, with The Rinks Foundation slated to fully fund the development. The Union-Tribune notes that the Ducks and Gulls plan to present a memorandum of understanding to the Escondido City Council as a first step toward a full feasibility study. Project supporters say the financing model would not rely on direct city construction dollars.
Who’s behind the plan
The Rinks Foundation, a nonprofit tied to Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli, is lined up as the project’s financier and development partner, according to materials from the Samueli group. Per the Samueli Foundation, the organization operates a network of rinks and skating programs across Southern California and has backed similar ice facilities. Internal documents from The Rinks Foundation describe a model built around community programming and multi-rink operations. Team officials say the Samueli-backed push is meant to expand access to ice sports while giving the Gulls a nearby, first-class training base.
Local history and the Gulls’ search for a home
Escondido has been without a multi-sheet public rink since Ice-Plex Escondido shut down in 2020, leaving a noticeable gap in North County ice time; local listings now show the former facility as permanently closed. According to team materials, the San Diego Gulls have practiced at Poway ICE since 2016. Supporters argue that a larger complex closer to Escondido would cut back on travel for youth teams and make North County a more attractive stop for regional tournaments and events.
What it could bring
Organizers say the three-rink complex would be programmed for youth and high school hockey, adult recreational leagues, sled hockey, figure skating and public skating sessions, with the potential to lure college and national tournaments. Program documents from The Rinks Foundation describe how multi-sheet facilities can anchor learn-to-skate programs and regional competitions that in turn generate weekend business for nearby hotels and restaurants in host cities.
Timeline and next steps
City staff and The Rinks Foundation plan to bring a memorandum of understanding to Escondido officials as an initial, nonbinding step. The council meets on Wednesdays and posts agenda materials in the days leading up to meetings, according to the city clerk’s calendar. If the council signs an MOU, the usual sequence would move into feasibility studies, design work and permitting before any construction, with backers estimating roughly three years for buildout once shovels actually hit the ground. The MOU stage would give the city room to dig into traffic, parking and environmental questions before making any binding commitments.
Aaron Teats, a Ducks executive who has worked on comparable projects, told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the Ducks can bring a first-class training facility to the Gulls while creating something that serves the wider San Diego ice sports community. He pointed to the organization’s Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena in Irvine as a template for blending public programming with professional training infrastructure. City officials did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
What to watch
For neighbors and hockey families, key questions will include the proposed site, how traffic and parking are handled and whether the facility ultimately operates under nonprofit or private tax-exempt status. Project backers cite the Ducks’ Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena, a multi-sheet complex the organization opened in Irvine in 2019, as an example of how a well-funded rink can host national youth events while still running daily public programs. If Escondido’s council signs off on an MOU, residents can expect a public timeline for outreach, environmental review and a multi-phase design process before any construction work begins.
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