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Sarnia Sting Arena Name: Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre |
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| Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre |
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| What's the Arena Like? |
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The Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre is another in the OHL's series of new suburban arenas. Much like its brothers in Barrie, Mississauga, Brampton et al, the SSEC is surrounded by parking lots and is located within spitting distance of a 400-series highway, in this case the 402. The arena is located on the grounds of Lambton College and is within a well-landscaped setting surrounded by college buildings. The arena itself is rather nice-looking from the outside, done up in tasteful salmon pink and blue-grey. It has the profile of a hockey rink. There are several glass doors which look directly into the rink itself which gives a view of the place even from the outside on non-game days. Inside, the building's 5000-odd seats are all uniformly maroon-coloured and there is a wide concourse, much like in Guelph, that affords a view of the ice even when you're on a beer run. In fact the Sarnia SEC and the Guelph SEC are the OHL's two most identical arenas from the inside, and if you've been to one, the other is very similar. There is the "Local Legends" restaurant running down the one side of the rink. There is a second ring of seats in an upper level which extends most of the way around the rink in a "U" shape which is the private box level, the boxes seem to hang over the ice more than in a normal new rink. The scoreboard is gigantic - it's eight-sided and has video boards, and is the class of the OHL. The sound system is good, not too loud, and the music selection is a nice mix. The Sting have a wide selection of songs appropriate to the moment in the game. Every time the opposing team scores a goal, or takes a penalty, or something like that, there's a cleverly appropriate song played. Facilities are good - there are sufficient concessions and washrooms around to handle even the biggest crowds. The parking lot is free, but unfortunately it's not easy to get into or out of, so arrive early if possible. There is also a surprising amount of memorabilia around, considering that the Sting are a young franchise for their city. The team has four "retired" numbers but on closer inspection they merely honour Aaron Brand and Peter Sarno for winning OHL scoring titles, and Trevor Letowski and Danny Fritsche for being chosen to the World Junior team. I find this odd as it seems to me to be an attempt to cloak the team in more history than it really possesses. Still, they are valuing what little history they have, so I suppose I can't complain too much - although maybe someday the Sting will be able to put a championship banner alongside. The Sting posess a decent team store, spacious with a good, though not great, selection of goods. The team store has old copies of the Sarnia Observer on the wall from when the franchise was moved in from Newmarket, and it's interesting to read the Observer's take on the OHL and what the team will mean for the community. (The "OHL Announcement Expected Today" edition refers to the team as the "Sarnia Stingers"!) Sting fans have a reputation for being quiet, and they generally were the day we were in town, but they're not as quiet as in some new buildings. Near the end of the game they actually got kind of rowdy, but this may have something to do with the fact that the game was close and that London is Sarnia's biggest rival. They were well-behaved, and apart from an unfortunate predilection for the wave, they were good fans. My biggest complaint about Sarnia is one that seems to be a growing trend in all walks of our modern, overly security-conscious life - the team won't let anyone take pictures inside the building. In most OHL arenas, the team is most worried about amateur photographers making money selling pictures of the players - a valid concern - which is why I always tend to limit my photo-taking to before and after the game and during the intermissions. (Besides, when the game is on, I want to, you know, watch it.) In my travels I've encountered no camera policies in Erie that the ushers tend to ignore, and similar policies in Guelph where they will only stop you from taking pictures during play, but Sarnia is the only rink I've ever been to where I was reprimanded for taking a picture of the arena during an intermission. And I'm never really going to warm up to the place for that reason - too many security guards these days are trained to enforce the letter rather than the spirit of the rules, and if the SSEC and the Sting don't want me taking pictures of the arena, I'm probably not going to enjoy going to games there. And I don't. In summation, the SSEC is quite a lot like most other new OHL rinks, and like Guelph and the new rink in the Sault in particular. Facilities are nice and there's plenty of free parking. Atmosphere, at least when the Knights are in town, is decent. But the ridiculous "no photos" policy, and moreso, the rigid manner in which it is enforced, means that there is no chance that the SSEC will ever attach itself too deeply to my heart. SSEC by Sports Nut, Arena Correspondent The Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Center is very much like the other newer arenas in the OHL. It's located off a major 400-Series highway (402), and can be accessed from either city streets or the local highway (Highway 40), if you aren't a fan of dealing with the truck-filled 402. The arena is located on the Lambton College Campus, surrounded by pleasant sights such as trees, bush, grassland, and college buildings. It's one of those settings where you can almost get lost looking around on a nice, sunny day. Directly in front of the arena is a rather large parking lot, with 2 parts separated by a small ditch. Access to both lots is easily attainable by main thoroughfares to the north and south. For those who have been to Plymouth or Belleville, parking is similar to those arenas, as opposed to the parking in Mississauga or Brampton, which could hold the populations of the respective cities with ease, or even the Soo, which has most of its parking in the mall behind the arena (relative to the little parking at the arena). Just outside the main doors to the arena is a spacious area for the fans or local college students to socialize at. When you approach the main doors, though, you notice that the glass you saw from the parking lots is actually letting you see the game inside. Quite the nice touch, I think. When I arrived, during the game, I could see the action on the ice from the outside. Mind you, it's not enough of a view to have people see everything going on inside, but more of a teaser. "You saw part of the action, so come on in to see the rest." Inside the arena, the box office lounge seems quite small. In fact, it seemed smaller than Windsor and can only be compared to Barrie in my travels so far. Mind you, there are ticket windows on the outside of the arena, so that should definitely help with any serious lineups. When you walk into the main doors, you're immediately into the action. Almost directly in front of you is the television broadcast via Cogeco. That was quite the shock, as I'm so used to the media being up in the rafters looking down at the ice. Not in Sarnia, though, and I have to say, I like that. Upon first glance, the atmosphere seemed to be electric, with the fans into the game. Seemed like it was also a pretty respectable crowd, so I was looking forward to a rocking arena. I was disappointed, to say the least. I couldn't tell what the seats were like originally, but once people stood up for intermission, they brought memories of another arena...Guelph perhaps? Regardless, they were all maroon coloured, and quite comfortable (for a plastic seat). I did notice a fair amount of leg room in my row (row 9), and even more leg room down in the front row. Quite the nice change from the Windsor Arena, no question. When looking around the arena from my seating area, a few things came to my attention: First, there is a nice row of suites above the main bowl. They appeared to be the expensive, rented kind, but that's only from initial observation. The radio broadcasters were as high up as I've ever seen radio broadcasters be...way above the penalty box, maybe 70' up?? That's a rough guess, but they were high enough up that they could probably have given a live score at a Detroit Tigers home game if asked. Second, there were some banners hung in the southwest corner, right above me. Upon closer look, they were simply recognizing scoring titles and a WJC team member. Appeared to be a somewhat cheesy addition, but cute none-the-less. Adding some colour to the arena, perhaps? During the intermissions, I had the chance to walk around the arena, full circle. You could see the ice surface from any location on the concourse, which is great for the hometown fans. If ou want, you can run and grab a beer or food without missing any of the action. On the east side, IIRC, was "Local Legends", a restaurant for the local fans. I didn't venture in, as I had no reason to at the time. There was a rather slim walkway to get around it, however, which seemed a challenge at times. It was passable, though, so can't complain there. Further inspection found many stands along the relatively wide concourse (very much like Guelph). Beer stands, food stands, raffles, programs, you name it they probably had it. After a while of walking around, I wandered into the souvenir shop. A rather nice selection, but from what I could tell, a bit pricey. $5 for a puck is a little high, no? Oh well, not much I can do about it. |
| Future Developments |
| There are no plans to renovate or replace the SSEC. |
| What Is It Like For Away Fans? |
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My rating of the SSEC may be skewed by the fact that London and Sarnia are archrivals, but Sting fans had almost enough sass to push them into the medium range. Most Sting fans seemed bemused by our green wigs and there were a few great fans that I enjoyed talking to. There were a few problems, but that is probably due to the "local rival" factor, and everything I've heard about Sarnia says that they're a "LOW" arena. If reputation is anything to go by, if you're a fan of a team that's not a traditional Sarnia rival you shouldn't encounter any difficulties. Sports Nut Says: I had heard rumours that the fans were amongst the quietest in the OHL. Well, all I have to say is, Barrie has competition for the title. Sarnia fans cheered the goals for a few seconds, booed a bad call or two, but did nothing else. Hell, the Guelph fans in the corner, along with my sister and I on the end, were the loudest there. They didn't even cheer for the team coming out for the 2nd and 3rd period. I never noticed it, but I was told that they didn't announce the Sting coming into the ice either. Way to motivate the crowds!! Now, they did have a lady doing promos in the stands, but even then the fans sat there going "oh, nice" and that's it! Come on Sarnia, you can do better than that! Nearly 4000 fans and very little commotion in the crowd. Yes, your team was losing, but that's no excuse. I'd give them a "LOW". Intimidation Factor: LOW |
How To Get There |
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From 402: Get off at Exit 6 (Modeland Rd./Hwy. 40 South). Go south on 40 to London Line exit (immediately after exit from 402). Follow the signs to "London Road" west, which will involve going straight through the intersection. From London Road turn left into Lambton College, the arena is set well back from the road. There is a large amount of parking in front of the building, and it's free. |
| Inside the Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre |
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| Admission Prices |
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Premium Seating $20.00 Bowl Seating $15.00 Reserved Standing $15.00 General Admission $15.00 All prices include a $1.00 City of Sarnia surcharge. |
| Franchise History |
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The Sarnia Sting are unique among OHL teams in that they began life in another major junior league - the QMJHL. The Cornwall Royals began play in the QMJHL in 1969-70 and quickly became one of junior hockey's powerhouses, winning the Memorial Cup three times in their first twelve years of existence. The OHL didn't like that the Quebec league had a team in their province, though, as youngsters from Cornwall and the surrounding area played in the Q, and not in the O. For the 1981-82 season the Royals transferred from the QMJHL to the OHL. In 1992-93 the Royals were moved to Newmarket, but the move to York Region quickly proved to be a disaster as average attendances frequently dropped below 1000. The team flailed and reeled in Newmarket for two seasons before being bought by the Ciccarelli brothers, who moved them to Sarnia for the 1994-95 season. |
| Retired Numbers |
| None |
| Another Look Inside the Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre |
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| Local Rivals |
| Primarily London and the West Division. |
| About the City |
| By Sarnian Buzzer: The city Sarnia has evolved from "The Rapids" (early 1800s) to "Port Sarnia" (1836) to "Sarnia" (1857), and from a native hunting ground to an up-and-coming settlement to an industrial center. Sarnia gained city status in 1914. The adjacent communities of Sarnia Township and Bright's Grove (which became the town of Clearwater) became part of Sarnia in 1991, after a lengthy political battle. The population of Sarnia is listed at 81,900. Small towns adjacent to the city's border make the number living in the immediate area closer to 90,000. Inhabitants of Sarnia consider the city a well-kept secret. Real estate prices and employment opportunities are reasonable. The crime rate is low, making Sarnia a good place to raise a family. Young people generally can't wait to leave, but many eventually return. Sarnia is predominately a blue-collar town. Much of the population is employed in the petro-chemical industry or businesses related to it. The municipal government is trying to attract other industry, and the fact that the city is located on one of the primary trade corridors to the USA and next to the border could change Sarnia dramatically over the next few years. Sarnia's biggest downside is its image. Most outsiders only know Sarnia from the media's perspective, which is that of a polluted toxic waste dump. Downtown has been dead for years. Numerous attempts to revitalize it have failed. There really is much more to this area than that, though - Sarnia's "Crown Jewels" are its waterfront and parklands. The city is bounded on two sides by shoreline, and the city is home to many who enjoy leisure activities on the water. The annual Bayfest concert festival attracts tourists, as does the Port Huron to Mackinaw Sailboat Race and the Celebration of Lights Christmas festival. Famous Sarnians include astronaut Chris Hadfield - the Sarnia Airport is named after him. Others include 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir, who is from Bright's Grove, James "Scotty" Doohan from Star Trek, former Chicago Blackhawk Pat Stapleton, Max Webster singer/songwriter Kim Mitchell, and comedian John Wing. For more information about the Sarnia area please visit Sarnia Tourism at www.tourismsarnialambton.com. |
Feedback |
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at  and I'll update the guide. |
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Copyright © Kevin Jordan
2002-07. |