Wollman Rink

Following the renovation, The Trump Organization operated the rink under contract with the New York City government until 1995 and again from 2001 until 2021, when control was given to Wollman Park Partners, a joint venture formed between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, The Related Companies, and Equinox Group.

[10][11] The rink had to be closed in the winter of 1980 when its concrete floor buckled; at that time, the renovation was estimated to cost up to $4.9 million and take two years.

Due to the necessity of soliciting bids for three separate contracts and a series of planning errors, construction mishaps, and flooding caused by heavy rains, the renovations had not been completed by May 1986 when the city reversed the decision to use Freon and decided on staying with brine in plastic pipes.

[10][11] Donald Trump then publicly offered to complete the renovations at his expense within six months, in return for leases to operate the rink and an adjacent restaurant in order to recoup his costs.

As part of its agreement with the city, the Trump Organization donated most of the profit to public works, including $50,000 for the rink's electricity costs, and to charity, among them United Cerebral Palsy, Partnership for the Homeless, and Gay Men's Health Crisis.

[25] During its last season of operation, the Trump Organization charged admission fees of $12 for adults from Monday to Thursday, $19 on Friday to Sunday and holidays, and $6 all week for youths 11 and under.

[27] In February 2021, the Parks Department announced their request for competitive bids on 5-year contracts for the operation and maintenance of Wollman Rink to be submitted by March 2021.

[31][32] Separately, the non-profit Central Park Conservancy had proposed operating the rink for 20 years and investing $50 million towards renovations.

[33] In July 2021, Wollman Park Partners LLC, a joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, The Related Companies, and Equinox Group, received a five-year contract to operate the rink.

[42] In 1957, WOR radio personality Jean Shepherd hosted a series of "Jazz under the stars" concerts on 15 consecutive nights, featuring Billie Holiday, Bud Powell, Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Dinah Washington, Stan Getz, and others.

[45] Todd Rundgren's Utopia, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Mothers of Invention, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, and the Patti Smith Group were some of the biggest rock groups who played at the rink;[45] country, blues, rhythm & blues, and jazz artists included Earl Scruggs, John Lee Hooker, The Supremes, and Buddy Rich.

[52][53] Wollman Rink has been featured in several films, including Love Story (1970),[54] Carnal Knowledge (1971), The Devil's Own (1997),[55] Serendipity (2001),[54] Night at the Museum (2006), Limitless (2011),[56] Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011), and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992),[57][58][59] as well as the television show Impractical Jokers (2015).