Fred Rust Arena - Delaware Blue Hens (women)

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57

Fred Rust Arena 605 S College Ave Newark, DE 19716

Delaware Blue Hens website

Fred Rust Arena website

Year Opened: 1971

Capacity: 2,500

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Blue Hen Pride

The University of Delaware (UD) is the largest university in Delaware and is located in the city of Newark (that's new-ARK, not NEW-urk like the one in New Jersey.) The Delaware athletic teams are known as the Blue Hens, after the official state bird of Delaware, and compete at the Division I level.

For many years, Delaware's men's and women's ice hockey teams competed at the club level, playing their home games in Fred Rust Arena, which opened in 1971. However, in 2025, the Blue Hens' football program made the jump from FCS to FBS, and to compensate for the additional men's scholarships, the university was required under Title IX to add an equivalent number of women's scholarships.

As a result, the women's ice hockey program was upgraded from club to NCAA level, and now competes in Atlantic Hockey America, a hockey-only conference formed in 2023 by the merger of the men-only Atlantic Hockey and the women-only College Hockey America.

The men's ice hockey team still competes at a club level in the ACHA and plays its home games in Fred Rust Arena as well. Stadium Journey has a review of that experience, although the information there is not as current as it is in this review.

Food & Beverage 4

The concession experience was vastly improved at Fred Rust Arena this season, coinciding with the move to the NCAA level. There is now an alcove next to the rink that has both a concessions window and grab-and-go snacks, sandwiches, drinks, and other items, which you can pay for either at the concessions window or at a self-checkout. However, if you are using cash, you must pay at the window.

Grab-and-go snacks include cotton candy, chocolate-covered pretzels, assorted candy, drinks, and protein bars, crackers, and other miscellaneous items, as well as a refrigerator with pre-made sandwiches and other light meal options. The concession window offers hot food such as hot dogs, pizza, nachos, popcorn, and soft pretzels. There is also a machine that dispenses hot chocolate, coffee, and tea.

Prices are reasonable, with nothing costing more than $5.

Atmosphere 4

Walking into Fred Rust Arena will put you in a lobby filled with Blue Hens' logos, trophies, and memorabilia, decked out almost floor to ceiling in Delaware blue and gold. The ticketing table is straight ahead - either show them your ticket or buy one if you haven't yet. Then turn right and walk through the doors to the rink. There are two sets of bleachers, one on each side, which are plastic and do not have backs but do have molded seats that are somewhat more comfortable than the usual metal ones.

Before the game, they will dim the lights and light up the rink in blue while the Zamboni surfaces the ice, then the lights will come on, only to be dimmed again as a spotlight shines for the player introductions. The Blue Hens have two mascots - YouDee and their child, Baby Blue, who roam the rink and the stands throughout the game, entertaining and interacting with fans. (The Delaware mascots do not have canonical genders - fans tend to use whatever pronouns they want to refer to them)

Neighborhood 3

Newark is a typical East Coast college town. Your best option is to head downtown to Main Street, which offers numerous options, including Grotto Pizza and the Deer Park Tavern. You can also head towards Christiana Mall or check out The Border Café, known for its Tex-Mex food and large “EAT” sign.

Fans will also want to check out the UDairy Creamery, which makes ice cream right on campus and is conveniently located right next door to Fred Rust Arena. Although their ice cream is not sold at hockey games like it is at Delaware basketball games at the Bob Carpenter Center, it is incredibly easy to visit before or after a game, and you do not even need to move your car.

Fans 3

Delaware draws a few hundred fans to a typical women's hockey game at Fred Rust Arena. The crowd is a good mix of friends and family, and locals. This is the Blue Hens' first season as an NCAA program, but they have built up a following over the years at the club level. With the low ceilings, it can get quite loud in here at times, and as excitement grows in future years, the experience should only get better in this regard.

Access 4

The University of Delaware campus is conveniently located right off Interstate 95. If coming from the north, take the last exit in Delaware, and the campus will be only a few blocks away. If coming from the south, you are better off getting off at the last exit in Maryland and driving a couple of miles on local roads to avoid the tolls - this will only add about a minute to the drive and will save you $5 each way.

Once on campus, there is a large lot next to Fred Rust Arena, and you pay for parking through the Passport Parking app. It will cost between $5 and $12 or so, depending on how early you arrive and how long you stay. Just keep in mind that a few spots are reserved for Creamery patrons. These are free to park in, but are short-term spaces, so unless you are just popping in to the game for a few minutes and leaving, you should not park there.

Restrooms are located through a door just to the right of the entrance to the main rink area after you come in. They are more than spacious enough for the typical crowds, though there may be a short line at intermissions.

Return on Investment 4

Single-game tickets are just $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-12. Concessions are also quite affordable. However, the cost to park, which is really unnecessary given the size of the lot relative to demand, brings this score down a notch.

Extras 3

Check out the banners and memorabilia for the various UD hockey and ice skating teams. The teams have shown great success over the years, including winning the 2012 ACHA national championship. The UD figure skating team has also enjoyed much success with some athletes, such as Tara Lipinski, who have gone on to the Olympics.

Also check out the marketing table by the entrance, with giveaways at each game, such as posters, as well as special promotional items like hockey socks at select contests.

A third and final star for the fact that kids have a chance to skate on the ice after select home games.

Final Thoughts

Although Delaware women's ice hockey is only in its first year at the NCAA level, it calls a great rink home and has already built a loyal following through their decades as a club team. If you're a hockey fan in Delaware, or in nearby Maryland or Pennsylvania, you will want to make the trip out here to check out a game.