Both courtesy of Skate World Phoenix Facebook Page. Basically same photos. The difference is the top photo has actual 1970s color photo. Above photo showed in likely a touchup to change the balance of color. The above photo looks more realistic color but more B/W put in. Top was more Sunset Copper color into the photo which was very common in the 1970s Kodak (and Fiji) films back then. I was enjoying the photo to see all the cars I recalled! Can you name them, Dead-Rink Fans? While you at it, I see the girl standing outside WITH skates on! Yes, she had her skates on and the older gentleman standing there.
Courtesy of Arizona Republic through Skate World Phoenix Facebook Group. Dated Wednesday April 29, 1992.
Skate World 4451 East Oak Street, Phoenix, AZ
Hockey on Wheels 4451 East Oak Street, Phoenix, AZ
Hockey on Wheels 4451 East Oak Street, Phoenix, AZ
In 1977, Kenneth E. Mason Sr. opened Skate World on 4451 East Oak Street in Phoenix, AZ. But it was closed in 1993. shortly after, with the new owner, it became Hockey on Wheels at the same location in 1994 for a year and half. They closed by resigning as business on April 19, 1996.
Hockey on Wheels lesaed the building apparently either from the owner of Skate World or the owner of the building.
Their logo was very 1970s look with a type of popular 1970s script style font for Skate World. However, I do not know the logo for Hockey on Wheels at the time when it was operated in mid-1990s.
Skate World went off to a good start but troubles came in the door by having problems both inside and outside of the rink. It really hit the nerves in the city by Wednesday April 29, 1992 in Arizona Republic newspaper. The shooting occurred and the worse was hit by Friday, April 18, 1992 when a band had an after concert party at the rink. More than a hundred there. It gotten out of control. This prompted a meeting on Wednesday April 22 of the same year that they had to do something. The people who lived around the area wanted the rink but needed something to do about it.
They had three major points they wanted improvement for the rink such as no trespassing signs, close at 11 pm and no special events such as concerts to be allowed at the rink. The third request is a business killer because venues like skating rinks are excellent today to have as an essential to survive as a business. Weddings, concerts, group exercising, and more. They are the ones that truly made effect.
But with that third demand to say no special events, evidently the rink closed the following year due to strict demands. Demands and laws and regulations are business killers. The less regulations, the better economically, socially, and state of people's health both mentally and physically.
So by February 1993, merely 10 months later, it was up for sale and in an attempt to sell to the city to make the place become a youth center which will hopefully reduce crime but the city had no money. Remember, this was 1990s.
By July 1994, finally Hockey on Wheels opened after a few months of filing with the state for incorporation, they started hockey there. Roller Hockey that is. But they closed in April 1996 -- almost the exact day three years after that shooting. Janet Leopold and Richard Leopold owned this generation of rink.
Today in an ironic twist of story, it is currently a Lifewell Behavioral Wellness center. Instead of having troubles at the the rink property, this time those in trouble are seeking for help now. Perfect spot for that. Good choice for that help center to have their counselors there.
The Interior.
N/A. I would like to see if any photographs available for the interior of this rink. That would be helpful. Possible concrete floor since most rinks have concrete floors in Arizona due to likely that the termites would have a wood fest and / or flooding.
The Exterior.
This Flat roofed Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Big-Box - like Building was entirely different look than it is today. Back then it appeared to be Dark Brown or Black trims on the outside with White walls with the logo Skate World on top part where it is dark.
It looked very modern for its time in the 1970s. Apparently with opening in 1977. It did look that way. I do not know what the look for the Hockey on Wheels look like (any renovations?)
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Likely 1977. Demolished: Still standing, heavily renovated.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Big-Box - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
Skate World: 1977 to 1993.
Hockey on Wheels: Filed on November 16, 1993. Likely opened in December Listed as Resigned April 19, 1996--likely closed that day. (December 1993 to April 19, 1996)
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Skate World: Declining business due to problems facing with crimes and community demands
Hockey on Wheels: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of open, closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Facebook group - Skate World, Arizona Republic (dates noted in photos), Bizapedia,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.
Hockey on Wheels lesaed the building apparently either from the owner of Skate World or the owner of the building.
Their logo was very 1970s look with a type of popular 1970s script style font for Skate World. However, I do not know the logo for Hockey on Wheels at the time when it was operated in mid-1990s.
Skate World went off to a good start but troubles came in the door by having problems both inside and outside of the rink. It really hit the nerves in the city by Wednesday April 29, 1992 in Arizona Republic newspaper. The shooting occurred and the worse was hit by Friday, April 18, 1992 when a band had an after concert party at the rink. More than a hundred there. It gotten out of control. This prompted a meeting on Wednesday April 22 of the same year that they had to do something. The people who lived around the area wanted the rink but needed something to do about it.
They had three major points they wanted improvement for the rink such as no trespassing signs, close at 11 pm and no special events such as concerts to be allowed at the rink. The third request is a business killer because venues like skating rinks are excellent today to have as an essential to survive as a business. Weddings, concerts, group exercising, and more. They are the ones that truly made effect.
But with that third demand to say no special events, evidently the rink closed the following year due to strict demands. Demands and laws and regulations are business killers. The less regulations, the better economically, socially, and state of people's health both mentally and physically.
So by February 1993, merely 10 months later, it was up for sale and in an attempt to sell to the city to make the place become a youth center which will hopefully reduce crime but the city had no money. Remember, this was 1990s.
By July 1994, finally Hockey on Wheels opened after a few months of filing with the state for incorporation, they started hockey there. Roller Hockey that is. But they closed in April 1996 -- almost the exact day three years after that shooting. Janet Leopold and Richard Leopold owned this generation of rink.
Today in an ironic twist of story, it is currently a Lifewell Behavioral Wellness center. Instead of having troubles at the the rink property, this time those in trouble are seeking for help now. Perfect spot for that. Good choice for that help center to have their counselors there.
The Interior.
N/A. I would like to see if any photographs available for the interior of this rink. That would be helpful. Possible concrete floor since most rinks have concrete floors in Arizona due to likely that the termites would have a wood fest and / or flooding.
The Exterior.
This Flat roofed Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Big-Box - like Building was entirely different look than it is today. Back then it appeared to be Dark Brown or Black trims on the outside with White walls with the logo Skate World on top part where it is dark.
It looked very modern for its time in the 1970s. Apparently with opening in 1977. It did look that way. I do not know what the look for the Hockey on Wheels look like (any renovations?)
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Likely 1977. Demolished: Still standing, heavily renovated.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Big-Box - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
Skate World: 1977 to 1993.
Hockey on Wheels: Filed on November 16, 1993. Likely opened in December Listed as Resigned April 19, 1996--likely closed that day. (December 1993 to April 19, 1996)
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Skate World: Declining business due to problems facing with crimes and community demands
Hockey on Wheels: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of open, closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Facebook group - Skate World, Arizona Republic (dates noted in photos), Bizapedia,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.