Three hundred guests celebrated the joint groundbreaking Thursday of the future Community Ice Facility with City of Irvine and Anaheim Ducks officials.

The 280,000-square-foot facility, to hold four sheets of ice, will be the largest in California and one of the largest in the country when it opens to the public in 2018 at the Orange County Great Park.

Irvine Mayor Donald P. Wagner, Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Schott, Councilmember Melissa Fox, Councilmember Jeffrey Lalloway, and Councilwoman Christina Shea were joined by Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli for the celebration on a part of the 13.5 acres that will accommodate the Community Ice Facility.

With hundreds of acres being developed today at the Great Park, the Community Ice Facility holds the promise of being an iconic location and playing area. The facility will be open mostly to the public and provide a variety of ice sports and recreation to include youth and adult hockey programs, regional and national tournaments, figure skating, and open public skating. The Anaheim Ducks are expected to practice here on occasion.

In February 2016, the Irvine City Council approved a 50-year lease on the property.

Visit https://flic.kr/s/aHskPiT7WH for press pool photos.