If you want to know how much it's going to cost you to skate at the coming-Silver Spring ice skating rink, and join the club.

It turns out that Tri-State Ice Management officials are a little hesitant to tell us how much they will charge skaters since the company's contract with Montgomery County hasn't been officially executed yet (which was supposed to happen yesterday).

But while keeping in mind that Tri-State's agreement with the county will determine the rates they will charge, perhaps we can still get a sense of how much it could cost in Silver Spring by taking a look at what they charge at a smaller rink they operate in Pentagon City: $7 admission for children under 12, $8 admission for adults, $7 admission for seniors over 55, and $3 for skate rentals.

Tri-State managing partner Lance Curran did tell us how long it will actually take to turn the concrete plaza into a winter wonderland of sorts: once the contract is executed "we will begin construction right away," he says, with crews roping off the pavilion and leaving Veterans' Plaza open to the public. Creating a sheet of ice should only take two days.

But the entire process of getting the rink public-ready will take a week or two, Curran says, as crews also need to set up concession stands, benches, and other amenities.

Curran says the county's goal of getting the rink up by Christmas is likely "short of the permitting process or the things truly out of our hands. But I know the county wants the facility up and open so I don’t anticipate any problems."