But for United Skates, the private firm hired to operate the Montclair Clary Anderson Arena, it’s not all about hockey.

The upgraded arena opened yesterday, and the company intends to transform it into a full-fledged family entertainment facility. To make it a success, part of United Skates’ responsibility is repairing the fiscal fabric of the arena’s frayed financial woes.

The ice arena on Chestnut Street lost an estimated $200,000 during the 2007-2008 season. In an effort to keep expenses to the municipal budget at bay, the move to contract with a private firm will enable the municipality to spend the annual $82,000 usually set aside for the rink on more essential services, said Mayor Jerry Fried.

"We felt that in the difficult situation we are in with the arena, it was the best way for the town to learn a way for the arena to serve the community in a fiscally responsible fashion," Fried said.

"One of our responsibilities is to turn that around," De Angelo said.

De Angelo summed up his vision for the arena in four words: Clean, fun, friendly and safe.

There are several "foundations" United Skates will use to making the arena a success, including a push for improving and expanding hockey, figure and public skating.

Major renovations to the arena are slated to begin next spring, De Angelo said, which include expanding the ice surface and extending seating capacity from 750 to about 1,000.

Video games will be brought in, as well as bigger birthday party rooms and a concession stand that will serve both the arena and the neighboring township community pool, De Angelo said.

"This isn’t a hockey rink … we are in the family entertainment industry."

United Skates, based in Columbus, Ohio, will act as a consultant to the township during construction, said De Angelo, who noted that he suggested to municipal officials that the arena be open year-round. It is currently a seasonal operation.

"The last thing we want to do is tell our customers we’re not open for the summer months and then send them to another rink," De Angelo said. "This building was good for what it was good for. But times have changed."

Peter McMullen, son of the late New Jersey Devils owner John J. McMullen, said municipal officials and the McMullen Family Foundation intend to discuss ways the foundation can support the arena’s renovations. "Our hope is that we will be meeting to work together," McMullen said.

"We’re really looking to further conversations with the McMullens with making Clary Anderson Arena the type of town resource it was meant to be," Fried said.

There are 25 operations staffers and additional volunteer hockey coaches. Skating lessons will be conducted by professional skating coaches, De Angelo said.

The admission price of $5.50 for public skating sessions has not changed, and new skating-lesson packages will save customers some cash, said United Skates Director of Ice Bill Irving.

Heightening the hockey program, which currently includes Montclair High School’s varsity and junior varsity programs, The Montclair Kimberley Academy’s teams and the Jr. Mounties hockey program, is also is high on United Skates’ list of priorities.

"The program is small at this time," Irving said. "We’d like to see a full-fledged youth hockey league, and we’d like to see some type of travel hockey program return."

Irving said that because the arena lacked such programs, they were "two major reasons" why the arena’s revenue was considerably less than what it could have been and why the facility was "under-utilized."

The facility, which opened as an outdoor rink in 1966, has been an enclosed structure since the early 1970s.

The arena’s grand opening ceremony will be held in November, De Angelo said.

Times Sports Editor Brian Smith contributed to this report.