Arcade games for an ice rink lobby
A rink lobby is full of people waiting: siblings, parents between periods, teams that showed up an hour early. Something to play keeps them happy. The classic options are air hockey, bubble hockey and prize machines, which cost real money and floor space. The cheapest option is a hockey video game on a TV, which can cost about a hundred dollars if you already have the TV.
The options
| Option | Upfront | Space | Upkeep | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air hockey table (commercial) | Thousands new, less used | A big table plus room to stand round it | Pucks, the blower, the coin mechanism | 2 |
| Bubble (dome) hockey | Thousands new | A table under a dome | Rods and figures wear out | 2 to 4 |
| Prize or claw machine | Often placed by a vendor on a revenue share | One cabinet | Restocking prizes, the vendor visits | 1 |
| Brudvig Hockey 2027 on a TV | A cheap computer, a USB hub and controllers: about $100 with a TV you have | A wall | None. It is free and updates itself | Up to 4 on controllers, more on phones |
Why a TV game fits a lobby
- It's hockey. Kids at a rink want hockey. Brudvig Hockey 2027 is 3-on-3 arcade hockey with big hits, glass that breaks and fights that end with someone flying into the seats.
- It takes no floor space. Mount the TV on a wall, put the computer behind it, and leave four controllers on a shelf.
- It runs itself. In Rink Lobby Mode it plays a demo when nobody is playing, a press of A on any controller starts a game, and after each game it goes back to the lobby on its own.
- Anyone can join from their phone by scanning the QR code on the screen, so a fifth and sixth player don't have to wait.
- It's free. No coins, no subscription, no account.
What it doesn't do
- It doesn't take coins, so it won't earn money directly. Treat it like the free Wi-Fi: a reason to stay.
- It needs an internet connection.
- Controllers can walk off. Wired ones on short cables help; see building a hockey arcade machine for ways to tether them.
How to set it up
A TV, a cheap computer, a four-port USB hub and four USB controllers. Open brudvighockey.com in Chrome, press Rink Lobby Mode, and press A on each controller. The full walk-through, with a diagram and the exact hub and controllers we use, is in the setup guide.
Questions
What arcade games work in an ice rink lobby?
Air hockey, bubble hockey, prize machines, or a hockey video game on a TV. A TV game is the cheapest and takes no floor space.
Is there a free hockey arcade game for a rink?
Yes. Brudvig Hockey 2027 runs free in a web browser. Rink Lobby Mode turns it into a lobby game with up to four controllers and a demo when idle.
How much does it cost to set up a hockey video game in a lobby?
About $100 for a cheap computer, a USB hub and controllers if you already have a TV.