Kennedy Arena In The City of Rome, NY

The J.F. Kennedy Civic Arena is one of the City of Rome’s most popular venues. Originally constructed in 1963 - and renovated in 2008 - the arena hosts numerous figure skating and ice hockey events, as well as learn to skate programs for youths. The J.F. Kennedy Civic Arena is also home to the Rome Free Academy Varsity Hockey Team, which plays its home games at the 1,200-seat facility.

The J.F. Kennedy Civic Arena is located at 500 W. Embargo St. in the City of Rome. It is co-located with the Municipal Pool.

From the West: Take the NYS Thruway to Exit 33 (Verona). Take Route 365 East, approximately 9 miles to the South James Street exit. Turn left onto South James Street. Take James St. to the intersection with Erie Boulevard West. Turn left onto Erie Boulevard. Pass three lights (P&C Plaza; George St. and Madison St.), turn right onto Jay Street. Follow Jay St. for four blocks (intersection with W. Embargo St.). Parking lot is on right.

From the East: Take the NYS Thruway to Exit 31 (Utica). Turn right off Exit Ramp. Turn right at light (1/10th mile) and take immediate right (onto Route 49 on-ramp). Take Route 49 West approximately 11 miles. Turn right onto Downtown Right exit. Take arterial into Rome (stay left). Arterial leads into Erie Boulevard West. Follow Erie Boulevard West for four lights (James St.; P&C Plaza; George St. and Madison St.). Turn right onto Jay St. Follow Jay St. for four blocks (intersection with W. Embargo St.). Parking lot is on right.

From the North: From Route 46. Turn right onto N. Madison Street. Follow N. Madison St. approximately 3.5-miles and turn right onto W. Embargo St. Follow W. Embargo St. for two blocks. The J.F. Kennedy Civic Arena Parking lot will be straight ahead. From Route 26: (Route 26 becomes Turin St. in the City of Rome). Follow Turin St. to Madison St. (New York State School for the Deaf will be on right). Turn right. Go four blocks (Elm, Bloomfield, Thomas) to Embargo St. Turn right onto Embargo St. and follow for two blocks. Arena parking lot will be straight ahead.

The John F. Kennedy Civic Arena is a regional facility, which is used primarily for ice hockey and figure skating form October through March. The primary users are the Ford Stanwix Hockey Association, a not-for-profit youth hockey organization; Rome Free Academy; Rome Catholic High School; a local figure skating club; and various local groups and organizations as well as the general public.

Recently, design work began on a Phase II of improvements to the facility, specifically the warming room and concession area, that will allow for more and better off-season use of the facility, including usage by teens and seniors.

Municipal Pool is a community facility, which is open from June through early September. It meets the recreational swimming needs of west Rome. The arena and pool are served by a large parking lot off of Jay and Embargo Streets with space for more than 150 vehicles. There is also a smaller lot, primarily for employees and hockey officials on the west side of the arena with space for approximately 10 cars.

The Kennedy Arena recently completed a renovation program (Phase I) in 2009, which included renovations to the ice surface and refrigeration equipment as well as all of the facility's major systems (heating, plumbing, electrical, etc.). The project also included the construction of four new locker rooms as well as new bleacher seating and extended the ice surace 15-feet to a standard dimension of 85 feet x 200 feet. The shell of the building remains relatively unchanged from its original construction in 1963.

The development of Municipal Pool included a standard-size recreational swimming pool; two water play slides; and a bathhouse with restrooms.