San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today announced the opening of San FranDISCO, a new 5,000 square ft. roller rink on Fulton Plaza in Civic Center. In partnership with San Francisco’s iconic Church of 8 Wheels and the Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD), the pop-up rink will showcase the best of roller-skating culture, featuring music from live DJs, disco balls, and colorful lights.
The new roller rink is a three-month pilot program with the possibility of extension following evaluation made by the City with partners and community. San FranDISCO will be open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 8:00 p.m. Youth under 18 years can skate for $5, and people 18 and up for $15 (admission fees cover entrance and skate rental). With offerings for everyone, the rink is a welcomed new outdoor entertainment amenity for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.
"I’m happy our families, kids, and residents are going to be able to come down to roller skate right across from City Hall at Fulton Plaza," said Mayor London Breed. "Bringing our City back is going to require everyone in our community working together on ideas like this rink that get people excited about San Francisco. I want to thank Civic Center Community Benefits District for their support of this project and we are proud to partner with Church of 8 Wheels, a San Francisco institution."
San FranDISCO is one of many new concepts derived from the City’s Economic Recovery plan to prioritize the City’s downtown area by bringing families, residents, and visitors back to
San Francisco public spaces and businesses.
“Bringing families, workers, residents and visitors here to San FranDISCO is the goal of the events and activities the City is hosting as part of our economic recovery,” said Kate Sofis, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “Transforming our public spaces for unique activities such as a roller rink speaks to the fun and spirit of San Francisco and we look forward to having many more events that bring people together and support our local businesses over the next few months.”
In addition to the high-quality rink flooring protected from the elements with a roof canopy, the rink facility features restrooms, a skate rental kiosk, and ample public seating areas where anyone can enjoy watching skaters in action. Instructors will offer 90-minute skating sessions at 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and a two-hour session from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. evenings Wednesdays through Sunday.
Programming at the rink will complement and support other initiatives in the area as part of the Civic Center Initiative, such as the re-opening of the Café Kiosk in Civic Center Plaza, now operated by Assembly Café; the addition of new weekday musical performances and food trucks to Civic Center Plaza; the enhanced seasonal produce offerings at the long-standing Heart of the City Farmers Market happening Wednesdays and Sundays in UN Plaza; and the Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting planned for December 7th.
“The rink is truly a bright spot and an indication of where people are with returning to public life. People need people, and they want to do fun things with others in unique and interesting places,” said Tracy Everwine, Executive Director of the Civic Center Community Benefit District.
"It's a new day for outdoor skating in San Francisco and the entire Bay Area skate community is buzzing." said Church of 8 Wheels founder David Miles. “This downtown rink, which is opening during National Roller-Skating month, is new, fresh, very San Francisco and will connect even more people to our City's skate culture and one another.”
San FranDISCO Fulton Plaza Roller Rink is sponsored by the City of San Francisco and OEWD, and in partnership with the Church of 8 Wheels, the Civic Center Community Benefit District, the San Francisco Public Library, and the Asian Art Museum.
For more information, please visit www.skatesanfrandisco.com.
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