We had a fun time at Tucson Holiday on Ice overall. The ice skating rink itself was a great way to get into the holiday spirit, and the addition of local food trucks was a nice touch. The atmosphere was festive, and it was definitely a budget-friendly way to enjoy the season with family.
However, my experience was unfortunately marred by some pretty poor behavior from the security staff. One of the guards, who had a ponytail, was unnecessarily harsh with a young boy after he fell on the ice. Instead of offering a helping hand, he threatened to kick him out for "messing with the ice." He wasn't doing anything wrong he just fell down like kids do when they're learning to skate. This made him so upset that he started crying.
To make matters worse, another security guard, wearing cheap, tacky sunglasses, was just as rude and unhelpful. It seemed like they were more interested in enforcing arbitrary rules than ensuring a positive experience for families.
It's such a shame because the event itself has a lot of potential. But they really need to hire security staff with more empathy, especially people who are good with kids. Dealing with children requires patience and understanding, and it was clear these guards lacked both. Until they make some improvements in that area, I can't say we'll be back next year. read more