This is a complicated endeavor requiring investors, insurance, bonded and licensed coaches and expensive equiptment. While you can purchase an existing facility it must pass state and local safety requirements and be safe to use for children and adults alike. Most skating rinks are owned and operated by local municipalities and lease out the rights to run the facility due to the expense of hiring and maintaining it. Depending upon your geographic location the cost of maintianing the ice and the indoor temperatures can be very expensive.
Setting up hockey teams, private ice time and getting contracts from a figure skating club and hockey club are crucial to the success.
If you love to skate try going to one in your area and see if they need a manager or if you can possibly become a partial investor in the facility.

this is the worst EVER!! my poor daughter ..who's finally interested in watching this..cannot seem to figure out when ANYTHING is on. NBC is showing coverage when they feel like. i havent seen any metal ceremonies..and ive been sitting here for for an hour and a half waiting for figure skating…IM SOO AGGRAVATED!!
two thousand channels on digital cable and they couldnt have complete coverage SOMEWHERE?? totally shocking …..this is the olympics for god sakes!!

I never liked watching the olympics when theyre overseas just because if you want to watch a live event you gotta catch it at 3 AM.. It'll be better in 2010 because the olympics will be held in Canada. So we'll be able to watch it as it unfolds