The Goal
The goal of the Campion Rink is to provide an indoor arena to serve organized and recreational skating programs of children and adults throughout the Upper Valley. The facility embodies the spirit of life-long athletic development that was valued by Jim Campion.
An Athletic Resource
For the countless number of area citizens who have been involved in the many stages of development, the Campion Rink is visualized as a facility that can be used by residents throughout the area for both winter and summer sport activities.
From mid-October to mid-March, the facility will operate as a first class regional ice rink available to youth and adult programs. Core users include the Hanover and Lebanon high school hockey teams Campion Rink already is "home ice" to both teams.
The rink provides superior ice availability for the youth hockey teams of Hanover and Lebanon and members of The Skating Club who use the facility as a training and performance center for youth and adult figure skating. For adults and their families there is ice time available for recreational skating.
From spring to fall, the locker, lavatory and shower facilities will be available for participants in athletic events taking place on the new Sachem Recreation Fields adjacent to the rink.
In very way, the James W. Campion III Rink will be a year-round resource serving the athletic needs of the public in the Upper Valley.
Campion Rink Facilities
Located on 14 acres at Sachem Field in West Lebanon, the Campion Rink is slightly more than one mile from downtown Hanover and 2.5 miles from West Lebanon center. The building is 220 feet long and 130 feet wide, enclosing a regulation 200X85-foot skating surface.
In addition to the lobby and mechanical-electrical equipment areas, there are four team dressing rooms with shower/lavatory facilities and public rest rooms. The rink manager's office incorporates concession and skate sharpening areas.
Seating for 450 spectators is provided and parking for athletes and spectators at the rink and playing fields will accommodate 150 cars.
The rink lobby provides a nostalgic link with the past. It includes a wall constructed with brick and granite that was formerly part of Davis Rink. Built during the 1920s, Davis Rink was Dartmouth's primary ice facility until Thompson Arena opened in 1975. Davis was then used actively by area youth hockey and figure skating programs until it was razed in 1985.
Management of the Campion Rink is provided by the Hanover Improvement Society Community Rink Inc. Operating income is generated from user fees. Commitments from the primary user groups is expected to meet annual operating expenses of the arena.
