The ice doesn’t have to be that bad. I think the NHL tries too hard to duplicate their indoor ice, instead of making the best outdoor ice possible.
The REAL issue making the ice isn’t that there’s not a roof overhead, it’s that there’s not a level concrete surface underneath - and the NHL likes to keep the ice thin, so they can better control the ice temperature…which in my opinion compromises the integrity of the ice. I think they’d be better off giving up on trying to micromanage ice temps, and going with a thicker, stronger sheet.
This is interesting -- I did not know that. From your pen, then, to the NHL brass. But, given their general level of "unresponsiveness" it may be awhile, or never.