History
The Polar Palace opened in 1928 with a 220-by-100-foot ice surface and seating for about 6,500. UCLA and USC played hockey there from 1934 to 1938, and the Ice Follies first appeared there in 1938.
A fire that started in the coffee shop early on May 16, 1963, destroyed the building, and its trustees chose not to rebuild.
Why it matters: An early Los Angeles college hockey rink.
Timeline
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
We have not verified what occupies the site today. Know? Tell us, with a source.
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| UCLA Bruins | NCAA · 1934–1938 |
|---|---|
| USC Trojans | NCAA · 1934–1938 |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 613 N. Van Ness Ave, Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Venue type | rink |
| Sports | Hockey |
| Level | NCAA |
| Opened | 1928[1] |
| Last used for sports | May 16, 1963[1] |
| Demolished | May 16, 1963[1] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Final capacity | 6,500[1] |
| Surface | Ice, 220 x 100 ft |
| Closure | Destroyed by fire. |
Documented details
- Ninety firefighters from 15 companies fought the 1963 fire; the trustees decided not to rebuild.[1]
Sources
- Polar Palace, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, demolished, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.