A long-awaited ice skating arena is set to open in October in Snoqualmie Ridge despite the pandemic.

The Sno-King Snoqualmie Ice Arena is set to hold a grand opening on Oct. 18. The 72,500-square-foot facility will house two National Hockey League size ice sheets. It will also have a lobby and viewing area, a mezzanine with seating, and 12 locker rooms.

The facility also will include space for parties and meetings. It will allow Sno-King to add more than 6,500 hours of ice time on the Eastside — equal to about 1,600 youth and 1,000 adults who can learn to play. And the facility will join the company’s roster of arenas, which includes one in Kirkland and another in Redmond.

The facility is available for registered skaters and scheduled on-ice sessions, as required by state coronavirus restrictions. Public walk-ins and tours are not permitted because of the pandemic.

The arena will help develop youth and adult hockey and figure skating programs. Tryouts for local hockey teams were scheduled to begin at the facility in September.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in September with Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, state Sen. Mark Mullet and Sno-King’s directors.

Hockey is poised to explode in the region, between the Snoqualmie arena and the announcement of Seattle’s new NHL team. The Seattle Kraken are slated to play their first season in 2021. A large three-rink arena is being built for them in north Seattle.

According to a USA Hockey article from 2018, the number of American youth hockey players has been steadily increasing since the 2012-13 season. More than 30,000 players picked up the sport between that season and 2018.

The Snoqualmie arena cost roughly $23 million to construct. It is located at 35323 SE Douglas St. in the Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park.

Screenshot of the new skating rink.