Nicholas Family of Companies (NFOC) today announced that Spectate Group, its in-house sports and recreation division, has reached an agreement to lease, manage and operate the Carmel Ice Skadium, a two-rink arena located in Carmel, Ind., a northern suburb of Indianapolis. The assignment brings Spectate’s portfolio of ice facilities under management to four, with that total set to reach five by end of 2026 with the opening of a new NFOC-developed arena in Chicago’s suburbs this fall. Additionally, the Carmel location grows Spectate’s presence in the Indianapolis market, where it will manage the new indoor, multi-sheet Westfield Ice Facility, also being developed by NFOC, when it opens in 2028 at Grand Park Sports Campus in north suburban Westfield.
“Having spent plenty of time at local ice rinks over the years watching my own kids play competitive hockey, I know firsthand how closely tied these facilities are to the community and the groups that use them,” said Nick Papanicholas Jr., managing director and CEO of Nicholas Family of Companies. “As we expand our footprint in the Indianapolis market, our Spectate team is eager to not only bring our own brand of excellence for management and programming to the Carmel Ice Skadium, which has been serving the area for more than 50 years, but also strengthen the relationships we’re already building within the local ice rink and hockey community.”
Located at 1040 3rd Ave. SW in Carmel, the Carmel Ice Skadium features two NHL-sized rinks, a snack bar, party rooms and a pro shop located within the 65,000-square-foot facility. An existing arcade is being transformed into new food and beverage options, which will be operated by NFOC’s Big Fish Hospitality Group.
Through its white glove management services, Spectate will oversee programming, marketing, maintenance, hiring and training, and day-to-day operations for the facility, including coordinating with local hockey programs and other groups that utilize the arena.
Spectate has taken over operations as of July 14, 2026, following the sale of the property to an affiliate of Podell Partners, a Carmel-based real estate investment and development company.
In addition to the Carmel Ice Skadium, Spectate currently manages Rosemont Ice Arena, a 103,000-square-foot twin-sheet facility that opened last year and features dedicated team spaces, a restaurant and bar in Rosemont, Ill.; Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills, Ill., a 63,000-square-foot facility with two NHL-regulation rinks acquired by Nicholas Family of Companies last year; and the Nicholas Sportsplex, a 17-acre indoor-outdoor sports complex with three ice sheets, synthetic turf fields, dedicated team spaces, a restaurant, bar and hockey pro shop in Mount Prospect, Ill. The Elk Grove Ice Arena, an 86,000-square-foot, two-rink complex currently being developed by NFOC in Elk Grove Village, Ill., will be managed by Spectate when it opens in fall 2026, as will the Westfield Ice Facility when it is complete in 2028.
About the Nicholas Family of Companies:The Nicholas Family of Companies is a second-generation, family-owned and -operated organization headquartered in Mount Prospect, Ill., with additional offices in Indiana, Florida, and Wisconsin. Both Spectate Group and Big Fish Hospitality Group are part of the distinctly different and deliberately personal Family of Companies. To learn more, visit nicholasfoc.com.
About Spectate Group:Spectate Group is a turnkey sports and recreation firm that strives to enhance and elevate the experience of athletes, fans and advertisers. Spectate not only operates arenas and recreation centers but also designs and builds them by leveraging Nicholas & Associates’ construction capabilities. From high-end on-site food and beverage offerings to NHL regulation-size ice sheets, the company’s venues offer features and amenities designed to please the most discerning palates and athletes of all abilities. Spectate’s facilities include Carmel Ice Skadium, Glacier Ice Arena, Nicholas Sportsplex, Rosemont Ice Arena, Elk Grove Ice Arena (opening 2026), and Westfield Ice Facility (opening 2028). To learn more, visit spectategroup.com.
About Big Fish Hospitality Group: Big Fish Hospitality Group is a design-build-operate conglomerate focused on bringing fine dining experiences to sports venues and communities. The group celebrates the art of hospitality at each of its restaurants, including The Prospect, Big Fish’s Icehouse, Nomad Taco and Hatty’s Club. To learn more, visit bigfishhospitality.com.
