CityGlace

CityGlace is the recreational ice rink of Le Mans, located in the Université district at the foot of the Tour Émeraude and reachable by tram (Université stop). On its 26 x 56 meter rink, the venue welcomes families, school groups, amateur clubs and curious visitors all year for lively public skating sessions, with skate rental on site, an equipment shop and a food area, the CityGlace Café. What sets it apart: unlike most French ice rinks, which are run by local governments, CityGlace is a fully self-funded private business, one of the only ones of its kind in France, along with the rink in Auxerre.

Open almost all year (closed only at Christmas), the rink adjusts its hours by season and has been one of the leading leisure venues in the Le Mans area for more than twenty years, with about 90,000 visitors a year.

A bit of history

CityGlace was launched in 2000 by Emmanuel Huet and his partner Nadine Le Saout, both figure skaters, who wanted to give Le Mans a fully private recreational rink, a rare model in France. The venue opened in 2001 in the Université district, welcoming its first skaters during the All Saints' holidays that same year.

Since then, the business has held its own as one of the few French ice rinks that is entirely self-funded. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021. The Covid-19 crisis hit its business model hard, with thirteen months of cumulative closures. The venue has since invested in renewing its skate fleet (800 pairs) and plans to modernize its refrigeration system.