Hampton, NB - September 11th, 2025
The Town of Hampton is committed to ensuring residents have access to ice this season while final commissioning is completed at the new Summit Centre.
Construction on the Summit Centre remains ahead of schedule. Originally projected to open in January 2026, progress has created the opportunity to welcome the community sooner than anticipated.
With final commissioning of the Summit Centre still underway, the Town recommended users with preseason ice requirements to secure pre-season ice time at other facilities. This does not mean there will not be ice available in Hampton this year. This is a precaution to ensure local athletes can begin their season without delay while final commissioning is completed. We have communicated with their board of directors, and they have taken steps to do this.
If, in the unforeseen event that the Summit Centre is not ready in time for the regular season, Hampton Town Council is prepared to implement an interim plan to open the Mike Murphy Memorial Field House as a temporary rink. This would allow ice users to begin regular season. Once the Summit Centre is fully commissioned for occupancy, all ice sports will then move to the Summit Centre and the Mike Murphy Memorial Fieldhouse will transition back to its intended use as a fieldhouse facility, restoring the fieldhouse programs for community groups and families. We do not expect this will be necessary but are prepared to proceed if the situation requires.
Town Council acknowledge that some residents have expressed interest in maintaining two permanent ice surfaces. This option has been thoroughly evaluated by Town staff, committees, consultants, and Council, and is not possible and will not be undertaken. The financial impacts are not sustainable for our small community. The cost to operate the former arena as a rink is approximately $78,000 per month. Beyond this ongoing expense, the facility would also require substantial capital investment to remain viable as an arena. These long-term costs were a key factor in Council’s decision nearly 15 years ago to pursue a new, modern facility for Hampton. Running both the new Summit Centre and a second permanent rink at the Field House is not financially responsible, given Hampton’s size and resources.
The decision also considered costs to run the same facility as a fieldhouse. While the fieldhouse will require investment to be fully operational year-round, this work will be completed over time as conditions and funding allows. In the interim, programs and offerings will be planned and delivered as conditions allow, providing a more diverse array of options that meet the recreational needs of all Hampton residents.
This decision reflects Council’s commitment to balancing the recreational needs of an active community with fairness to all taxpayers.
The opening of the Summit Centre marks a once-in-a-generation investment in Hampton recreation, providing a modern NHL-sized ice surface, walking track, soccer field, community room, expanded programming opportunities, and a facility designed to serve the whole community for decades to come. We are excited to deliver this incredible new facility and new recreational opportunities to residents. We look forward to meeting you at the Summit Centre!
Town of Hampton 506-832-6065 / email clerksoffice@hampton.ca
