Ice at Canalside will officially open to skaters on Nov. 20, with the rink relocated near the intersection of Marine Drive and Commercial Street this season as major construction reshapes the surrounding waterfront. The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation announced the opening date, and this year's pavilion sits in a temporary spot because of nearby building work.
That move was prompted by the $225 million North Aud Block redevelopment, according to Spectrum News, which reported that construction necessitated the ice pavilion's temporary relocation this season. The project broke ground in July on a development that will eventually include 251 residential apartments, 18,000 square feet of commercial space, and a 20,000-square-foot public plaza.
“We are thrilled to welcome Western New Yorkers back to the waterfront for another incredible season on the ice,” said ECHDC Board Chair Joan Kesner, per Spectrum News. Skaters can reserve single-day skating passes, season passes, group outings, private igloo rentals, and curling, with reservations available online. The 2026-2027 season will again feature bumper cars, curling, theme nights, giveaways, and family programming, and ice bumper cars return Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
What It Costs to Skate This Season
Admission for the new season is set at $8 for adults ages 13 and up, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and military personnel, and free for kids 5 and under, with skate rentals priced at $6, according to WGRZ. Individual season passes run $49 and family passes cost $99, the station reported. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is returning as the presenting sponsor for its 13th consecutive year, and the station noted that health plan members can get discounted season passes at $39 for individuals and $80 for families.
During February Break, local families could receive free admission and skate rentals through the Winter Free Play Zone, according to Project Play Western New York.
Groups and businesses planning private outings can explore rink rentals, igloo packages, curling, and ice bumper cars. Public bumper car rides are available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
A Rink Built on Decades of Waterfront Change
The ice sheet itself is no small operation. Empire State Development has documented that Ice at Canalside spans 35,000 square feet along historically aligned man-made canals, making it the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in New York State outside New York City. The frozen surface covers the historical confluence of the Erie Canal, Hamburg Canal, and Commercial Slip, according to the state agency.
The former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was demolished in 2009, and the site underwent remediation. The canal project, built at a cost of $20 million, officially opened in 2014. The former Aud Block reportedly sat vacant for nearly a decade before its acquisition, anchoring this winter attraction within a much longer story of downtown Buffalo's waterfront revitalization.
Housing Rises Alongside the Rink
The construction now crowding the ice pavilion's usual footprint carries its own significant public policy weight. Investigative Post reported that 164 of the 251 apartments being built on the North Aud Block are affordable, while 87 are market-rate. The project is backed by more than $130 million in state funding, tax credits, and a 30-year property-tax break, according to the outlet's reporting.
Visitors arriving for this ice season will also find a newly completed amenity nearby. Empire State Development announced in November 2025 the opening of The Chandlery, a $14.25 million gateway building on the North Aud Block that now houses Visit Buffalo's official visitor center, featuring maps, local guidance, and public art celebrating the Erie Canal Bicentennial, the agency said.
Visitors driving in can also find free parking at nearby Outer Harbor locations.
