Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink is a vibe. Take a look at the city’s new entertainment hub

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After months of planning, Sacramento’s seasonal outdoor roller rink has opened its doors — just in time for summer.

In collaboration with Downtown Sacramento Partnership , Sacramento-based entertainment brand HOF transformed Ali Youseff Square at 705 K St. into a “vibrant hub” for roller skating sessions and family-friendly entertainment, according to a Monday news release.

The Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink , which opened to the public on Friday, features a black-and-white checkered floor with a hanging disco ball, large speakers and a stage.

The community-centered activation runs through Sept. 17.

Organizers said the roller rink is a “summertime version” of the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink , which operates at the same location from November to January.

“The ice rink is one of the most successful activations in Sacramento,” HOF co-founder Damian Lynch told The Sacramento Bee on Friday morning at Ali Youseff Square. “This is a natural evolution of that.”

What is it like at Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink?

A yellow welcome sign guided community members into the space on Friday morning.

Upbeat tunes such as “Candy” by Cameo and “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar set the tone on Friday morning.

Jovial skaters could be found gliding on the rink or catching their breath on the sideline while playing games such as Connect Four and Corn Hole.

“You’re a cheater!” a person exclaimed while playing a game that resembled beer pong with a large white ball and red cans.

Skaters attempted tricks on the rink while Slamson the Lion, the Sacramento Kings’ mascot, took selfies with folks.

Sacramento residents: ‘Skating is cool’

Yatzeni Cebrero and her 5-year-old daughter, Isabella Cebrero, were among the first families to arrive for a public skating session.

Hand in hand, the Sacramento residents split their time playing table games, snacking and making laps around the rink.

Yatzeni Cebrero captured moments of her daughter on the rink with her cell phone while grooving to the song “You Can Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward.

Isabella Cebrero, who wore a colorful, flowy skirt and skates to match, started roller skating roughly a year ago. She recently picked up skateboarding.

“Skating is cool,” the 5-year-old said while eyeing the roller rink. “I can go fast, I can jump and I keep on skating.”

Yatzeni Cebrero learned about the Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink on Wednesday night via social media.

“During the summer, it’s always good to find things to do out — especially early before it gets too hot,” Cebrero said, adding that the affordable price point is a plus.

What went into planning for outdoor roller rink?

The Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink is about seven months in the making.

HOF and Downtown Sacramento Partnership began brainstorming a list of roughly 20 ideas in November to utilize the space at Ali Youseff Square, Lynch said, and “this was a clear winner.”

Lynch said the roller rink faced many setbacks before its opening day.

“Just getting the permit in the first place was challenging,” Lynch said, adding that getting the idea past city officials, designing the rink, and securing vendors and equipment “was not easy.”

“(City officials) make it about as hard as they can make it for you to do things like this,” he added.

Now that the rink is complete, Lynch said he wants it to “feel like a staple.”

Sacramento-based community organizer Frances McGee, who integrates skating with racial justice, said the Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink is a progressive step towards a more inclusive city.

“I grew up being very aware of redlining and how that’s utilized in places as mundane today as a roller rink,” the Sacramento native said Friday afternoon at Ali Youseff Square.

“Now we’re in a position where the survival of the brick and mortar requires accepting the scope of your demographic, the scope of your city, the people that make it up,” she added.

Redlining is defined as the practice of denying people, historically those living in Black-populated neighborhoods, access to housing because of where they live, according to Federal Reserve History.

McGee, who has been skating for more than 17 years, hosts community meetups where people learn to “feel safe skating and adventuring outside.”

What’s next for rink at Ali Youseff Square?

Lynch said residents can look forward to live music and speaking engagements at the rink.

“Now more than ever, it is important for city centers to invest in their communities,” Michael Ault, Downtown Sacramento Partnership executive director, wrote in a news release on Monday.

“We’re eager to increase our collaboration with local creators to continue a more people-centered destination downtown, and a summertime outdoor roller rink fits that vision perfectly,” he added.

The intent is to make the roller rink an annual event, according to Madelyn Smith, communications and outreach director with Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

How much are tickets? Are skates included?

Admission to the Downtown Sacramento Roller Rink ranges from $10 for children 6 and under to $20 for regular admission for unlimited skating sessions.

The cost covers skate rentals, but patrons can use their own roller skates for a $3 discount.

What are roller rink open hours?

Open hours are from 2 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and noon to 10 p.m., Friday through Sunday.

The roller rink is closed on Mondays.

It shuts down for the season on Sept. 17 to make room for the seasonal Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink.

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