Opinion Editorial: College Station Needs a Skating Rink
Article By: Candace Obi, Student Intern | BCS Chronicle
What You Need To Know:
Student Intern, Candace Obi, makes a case for how a roller skating rink would benefit the BCS community.
The closest rink is about forty minutes away near Brenham, which isn’t ideal for students without cars or families looking for quick local entertainment.
College Station is growing rapidly, with over 130,000 residents and a reported 2.7 percent annual growth rate, according to city data.
There are currently some local options for family fun in College Station, but in a city with college students and growing families, more options are always welcome.
Picture this: it’s a Friday night, and bored teenagers are looking for something to do. What’s somewhat safe and doesn’t involve drugs or sex? Skating! College Station is in desperate need of a skating rink.
The absence of sound from wheels gliding across the floor, babies crying in the corner, and greasy pizza sizzling in the oven is something this town desperately misses. For a city filled with high schoolers, college students, and families, there’s a huge gap in the market without a place like this.
Sure, we have ice skating, but let’s be real: it’s cold, slippery, and not exactly the most comfortable way to have fun. Step onto an ice rink, and you’ll probably need special shoes, gloves, and a jacket just to survive. Compared to roller skating, ice skating is harder to pick up, less forgiving for beginners, and less accessible for kids, families, and casual skaters. There’s no need to worry about frostbite or scraped elbows under a smooth wooden floor with a disco ball overhead, all while grooving to “Dancing Queen” by Abba.
College Station does have fun spaces like Grand Station, which proclaims itself the number one hotspot in the area. But why stop at one? Most people either go to the movies or bar and club hop on weekends. What about a family-friendly space where people can meet up, soak in nostalgia, and just hang out like old times? We need more “third spaces,” places that aren’t school or work, where the community can simply exist and connect. A skating rink should be one of them.
“Not everybody wants to go to Northgate every single time,” said Esther Adekoya, a freshman nursing student at Blinn College. “You look at what to do in this town, and it’s like, oh, a movie, maybe bowling, or Gumby’s – that’s boring. A skating rink could have drinks for adults and a safe environment for a younger crowd.”
The closest rink is about forty minutes away near Brenham, which isn’t ideal for students without cars or families looking for quick local entertainment. It’s probably obvious, but College Station is growing rapidly, with over 130,000 residents and a reported 2.7 percent annual growth rate, according to city data. Our recreational spaces need to catch up. People shouldn’t have to drive to Dallas, Austin, or Houston just to find something fun to do.
Some might say, “Okay, why don’t you open one then?” Honestly, I’d love to. But kickstarting a roller skating rink is expensive. We’re talking upwards of a million dollars, according to Roller Software. The costs stack up fast: leasing, renovations, equipment, staff training (hey HR!), and all the hardware that keeps the lights, sound, and skates running. And then there’s liability. What happens if little Johnny takes a tumble on kids' night?
I don’t think building a rink is as easy as a summer morning, but that’s why city investment matters. The community can find ways to support developmental projects that matter through local partnerships or even university collaborations. We have the population and Aggie spirit, we just need the initiative… and the money!
A skating rink would also enrich student life and campus culture. Student organizations are always looking for creative venues for events. Most settle for Andy’s Ice Cream or Gumby’s on a Tuesday. But imagine mixers and fundraisers at a skating rink. Let’s get physical and have some real fun. There’s a lost art to spaces like these: places that let you move, laugh, and be present.
And date nights? They’d be unforgettable.
I personally remember zipping through crowds, laughing with my best friend as we kept slipping and falling, sometimes into splits. We’d giggle at guys we thought were cute, fall again, and laugh even harder. It never was about being good at skating for us. It was about being together in the moment, creating memories.
College Station doesn’t need another overpriced apartment complex or fast food chain. It needs a place where wheels spin, music plays, and memories roll. It’s time to bring back the rink.
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