Centre ice · Seasonal
Centre ice in the winter break in Matthews
The season changes what a visit feels like more than you would expect.
It is also the best place to watch from the rail: the whole rink is between you and them, and every lap comes back past you.
Families around Matthews who have done it once tend to plan the second visit differently: shorter, earlier in the day, and with the machine the child liked in mind.
Why this time of year
The middle of the rink is where the wall stops helping. Getting there is the milestone every new skater sets for themselves without being asked.
If one child is nervous, let them watch for the first ten minutes without being asked to join in. Almost all of them join in.
What changes
Space in the centre is what lets a child try a turn. Near the boards there is always somebody to avoid; in the middle there is only the turn.
It is also the best place to watch from the rail: the whole rink is between you and them, and every lap comes back past you.
What to wear
The middle of the rink is where the wall stops helping. Getting there is the milestone every new skater sets for themselves without being asked.
Warn a nervous child about the noise before you walk in. Knowing what to expect is most of the difference between anxious and curious.
Planning around it
Space in the centre is what lets a child try a turn. Near the boards there is always somebody to avoid; in the middle there is only the turn.
It is also the best place to watch from the rail: the whole rink is between you and them, and every lap comes back past you.
Questions parents ask
How long before a child leaves the rail?
Some in the first session, some in the fifth. Neither is unusual.
How do I get in touch?
By phone on +1 (424) 387-6232 or +1 (615) 968-4925, or by e-mail at info@newlife-entertainment.com.
What are the opening hours?
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
Planning your visit in Matthews
Nothing about the visit assumes you know the area. The centre is inside Concord Mills, which is signposted from everywhere in Concord and impossible to miss once you are there.
Decide how long you are staying before you walk in. A visit with an end time attached to it finishes on a good note rather than a tired one.
If two adults are coming, split up rather than shadowing the same child. One at the rail, one free, and everybody has a better hour.
Coming in from Matthews with more than one child, the useful thing to know is that the room does not need to be rationed - there is more than one thing to do at the same time.
The practical details
- XCAV ZONE — 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214: four child-operated machines over a ball pit.
- ICE PARK — 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027: a real rink with bumper cars on the ice.
- Opening hours — 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
- Phone — +1 (424) 387-6232 · +1 (615) 968-4925
- E-mail — info@newlife-entertainment.com
Questions about a specific day, a group or a party are best asked directly - info@newlife-entertainment.com, or either of the numbers on the contacts page.