Aviator Sports and Events Center complex closing at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn

A Brooklyn indoor athletic center frequented by youth and adult hockey leagues on Long Island has announced it will close its facility at Floyd Bennett Field next month when its lease with the U.S. National Park Service expires.

The Aviator Sports and Events Center announced through its social media channels and website that it will close the facility and discontinue gymnastics, hockey, volleyball and other indoor sports programs on April 14. A Park Service spokeswoman, however, said there are ongoing discussions for a possible lease extension through April, 2026.

Aviator operates a pair of ice hockey rinks, a rock climbing wall and other athletic facilities from space nestled inside multiple refurbished air hangers that served the U.S. Navy during World War II. The for-profit athletics organization has leased the space from the National Park Service since 2008, according to a closure announcement posted Monday on its website as well as its Facebook and Instagram pages.

The loss of two rinks is "a lot of ice to lose," said Richard McGuigan, owner of Superior Ice Rink in Kings Park. Teams of all ages from his facility have played at the historic site.

"There’s not a ton of them, so any rink that closes is going to affect some players being able to play," McGuigan said in a telephone interview late Monday. "Most of the kids should be able to hook up with other local programs ... but it’s certainly not going to be convenient."

In January, the NPS "issued a competitive solicitation (Requests for Proposals) for ongoing use of the facilities to find our successor and we understand that the process will unfold in the coming months," Aviator said in the announcement.

Successful applicants would also have a pair of football fields, a swimming pool and other outdoor facilities, according to the parks services website. The deadline for submissions was March 10, the website said.

The parks service is currently reviewing submissions, according to Daphne Yun, a public affairs officer for the parks service's Gateway National Recreation Area, which encompasses 27,000 acres across parts of both New York and New Jersey, according to its website. In an email exchange with Newsday, Yun, added that there is currently no timeline for the completion of this process.

"The National Park Service is committed to providing high-quality visitor services, including those provided by our concessioners," Yun said in an email. She added that the parks service has offered Aviator "another up-to-one-year concession contract extension through April 14, 2026. The NPS is currently in discussions with the concessioner concerning whether they will accept the contract extension and continue operating the facility beyond April 14, 2025."

Aviator’s announcement said it was in discussions with the parks service "to keep the outdoor facilities open through the fall of 2025 to ensure scheduled games and programs can continue as planned."

Aviator's announcement did not include details about any terms of its contract with the NPS, why it ended, or the extension offer through April 14, 2026. Representatives of Aviator declined to comment beyond this issued announcement when reached by phone

"We want to thank each and every one of you — our athletes, families, staff, and supporters — for making Aviator more than just a sports facility," Aviator’s announcement reads. "You made it a home for countless memories, friendships, and achievements."

George Hinz, the commissioner of the Long Island Amateur Hockey League, is holding out hope that either Aviator will reach an agreement with the parks service to continue indoor programming or the federal agency will award usage of the facility to a new bidder by then.

"My gut feeling is that something is going to be worked out," Hinz said. "It’s just that for the hockey community this comes at the worst time of the year. Everybody’s having tryouts."