One potential sponsor, asking to remain anonymous, wrote me this email:

That was a really good piece on the Capitol Hill “Ice rink.” It’s too bad because it was such a great idea but going with the synthetic ice was not the way to do it. I had considered sponsoring it when I first heard about it and thought it was real ice. Once I heard about the synthetic ice and the fact they were kind of hiding it I walked away fast. I think they just didn’t understand the real allure of ice skating. It is the sounds and sensations that you are referenceing. I grew up in CT and went to college in upstate NY and know what you are talking about.

I think there is an opportunity here though for someone to step in and deliver a real ice experience next year and hopefully all the same sponsors will come out and support that. I’m going to see if I can get the ball rolling on bringing real ice skating to Capitol hill for next year. I know some guys that have all the equipment to put it in. They used to run the holiday rink in Bellevue until Bellevue contracted with someone else. The equipment has sat idle for several years.

Fingers crossed!