Trump's Name Removed From Famed NYC Ice-Skating Rink He Restored in 1986
Wollman and Lasker ice-skating rinks undergo 'rebrand'
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The famous Trump-owned Wollman and Lasker ice-skating rinks in New York City's Central Park is scrubbing the president's name from nearly all locations.
The Trump Organization, which has owned the rinks since the 1980s, decided to scrub the presence of Donald Trump's name from the walls of the rinks, skate rental counter, and park signs.
In 1986, Donald Trump became the concession operator for Wollman after he made a deal with NYC Mayor Ed Koch to fully fund a restoration for the rink.
Using his own money, Trump finished the project two months way ahead of schedule, and $750,000 under budget.
Trump also donated the profits of the rink to public works and to several charities, these included:
- United Cerebral Palsy and Partnership for the Homeless
- Gay Men’s Health Crisis
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The renovation project was credited as having launched Trump into celebrity status.
According to The Washington Examiner, the removal of Trump's name from the rink and facility is a decision made entirely by the Trump Organization as they prepare to open for the season.
A representative for the city parks department confirmed the organization's plan to rebrand.
"The Trump organization notified us in late August that they planned to change the on-rink branding," said Crystal Howard.
She did not elaborate on why the change was being made.
One ice rink employee speculated that Trump branding was hurting business.
"I do believe that’s the answer. It was hurting business,” said the employee.
“A lot of the schools, you know, liberal private schools up here, come to parties up here. That was a big income earner up here Monday and Tuesday night."
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Other visitors to the park dismissed the notion that the Trump branding would keep them away from the ice rink.
"I’m not going to not go because it’s Donald Trump," one tourist said.
"Even though I hate him, and I don’t want him to be my president ... If I want to ice skate in this beautiful area, I’m going to do that."
"You know what this tells me?” said Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at local New York University.
“He’s a businessman. He knows the name Wollman [Rink] is better without Trump."
