A message from city staff regarding the Belltown Dome.
Unfortunately, for safety reasons, City staff had to close the ice at Belltown Dome. Though it is very cold outside, the humidity level from the ground inside the Dome went up mid way through the week, which made the ice too soft to skate on. That combined with sunlight on the building causing condensation on the ceiling and for staff trying to build up the ice by flooding, made it hard for the ice to freeze.
In regular indoor arenas, there are a lot of mechanical systems that help to keep the slab cold, ensuring the ice freezes properly. At Belltown Dome, the refrigeration system is not operational, so it is causing more strain on the dehumidification system, increasing the humidity in the facility. We are expecting colder temperatures on Sunday and for a prolong period. City staff turned on building fans that will help bring more cold air inside. We are hoping that this will help the ice be safe again for skating next week. Your safety is our priority, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate through this. If there are any changes, we will post updates online and have signage placed on the door to the Dome.