Three years later, he asked if he could resurface the Olympia Arena ice before a Wings game. That is by far the favorite part of my job. I think the Zamboni is the most famous machine ever invented. The mechanics of the modern Zamboni are complicated. In plain terms, an auger takes the snow that is scraped from the ice and clears it away.
Cold water is spread over the ice to wash it, and a rag-like device soaks up the excess.
Warm water is applied to the ice last, because warmer water contains less oxygen and therefore lays flatter, creating a smoother surface. The two machines at Centre ICE run on compressed natural gas, while the older model used at Howe Arena is propane-driven. Zamboni is 6,480 lbs.- 8,680 when full of water. Fans' love affair with the Zamboni has taken them to new heights - atop the machine itself. The annual ICE auction features rides on the Zamboni during Wings camp, and the Red Wings themselves raffle off intermission excursions during home games.