|
Niagara Falls Thunder
Arena Name: Niagara Falls Memorial Arena |
 |
| Niagara Falls Memorial Arena |
|
| What was the Arena Like? |
|
The Niagara Falls Memorial Arena is a few blocks away from the horrendous tourist sleaze of Clifton Hill and Lundy's Lane in downtown Niagara Falls, yet the rink is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood. The transition is quite amazing - at the corner of Clifton Hill (Centre St.) and Victoria St. a few blocks from the arena, you're surrounded by acres of neon and wax museums, yet walk west a few blocks on Centre St. and you're in an old, quiet area that could be anywhere in Ontario. The arena itself is across the street from the Kraft Foods factory and has a substantial parking lot, and it looks to be 1950ish middle-aged. It has a high, arched roof and is painted a tasteful cream-coloured stucco. There is a big sign out front announcing its presence as the "Niagara Falls Memorial Arena". Once inside, you enter a dark lobby with ticket booths and concessions directly in front of you. There is a plaque on the far wall announcing the building's opening on January 25, 1950, and another one indicating that renovations took place in 1986. There is also a portrait of the Queen. The other side of the lobby has a large display case featuring trophies and memoribilia from the Niagara Falls Canucks Junior B team as well as the old Flyers and Thunder - the OHL teams. From the lobby you go upstairs into the seating bowl. Niagara Falls Memorial Arena is immaculately maintained. There is a small score-clock and a huge number of banners hanging from the ceiling. Seats are all blue, all plastic, and I believe they date from the 1986 renovation. The place is well-lit and there is a large silver material covering the ceiling. Views are excellent and the atmosphere seems like it would be decent as well. Niagara Falls hasn't had a team since 1996 when the Thunder moved to Erie, Pennsylvania. With the IceDogs having chosen St. Catharines as their new home on the Niagara peninsula, it seems likely that the Memorial Arena will never again host the OHL. That said, it's one of the better former arenas out there, and but for an unwilling city council and an accident of geography, it's still in good enough condition to host today. |
How To Get There |
|
From the QEW: Take QEW to Hwy-420. East on Hwy-420 (to the Falls and USA) to MacDonald Ave. (next light past Stanley Ave.). Right on MacDonald and arena is down 600 feet on the left. |
| Inside Niagara Falls Memorial Arena |
|
| What's it Used For Today? |
| The OHL has a long history on the Niagara Peninsula. Besides the Thunder, Niagara Falls also had a pair of teams called the Flyers, one of which is now the Sudbury Wolves and the other of which is now the Saginaw Spirit. Meanwhile, nearby St. Catharines also had OHL teams, including the Black Hawks, the Tee Pees, and the Fincups. The rivarly between St. Catharines and Niagara Falls in the 60's and 70's was intense. The OHL hasn't had a presence on the peninsula since 1996 when the Thunder left for Erie, PA. For years, there was talk of a team returning with the idea being that one of the casinos would have an attached convention centre and arena, but when opportunity knocked in 2007, Niagara city council slammed the door in the league's face, and the IceDogs moved into Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines instead. It seems unlikely that the Memorial Arena will ever be used again by the OHL. Today, the arena is used as just about anything the city likes, as a community arena. The primary tenant is the Junior "B" Niagara Falls Canucks. |
Feedback |
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at  and I'll update the guide. |
|
Copyright © Kevin Jordan
2002-05. |