Minor League Arenas

[iconoclast22]

I forgot about the Asheville Civic Center when the SPHL Aces played there

 

[Predarat]

Kansas Coliseum, Wichita Ks (now inactive)
Mid South Coliseum, Memphis Tn (now inactive)
Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita Ks
Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Mo
DeSoto Civic Center, Southhaven MS/Memphis Tn
Municipal Auditorium, Nashville Tn
CajunDome, Lafayette, La
The "Incomparable" Myriad, OKC, OK

 

[PCSPounder]

I'm counting the not-so-many WHL arenas I've been in because they're as professional. I'm not counting Moda Center in Portland because it's really not minor league.

Memorial Coliseum, Portland
Key Arena, Seattle (Thunderbirds... and I'm a bad boy)
Mercer Arena, Seattle (now torn down... that was a pit)
ShoWare Center, Kent (Seattle)
Xfinity Arena, Everett
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Toyota Arena, Kennewick (Tri-City Americans)
Tacoma Dome (Sabercats, not Rockets)
CenturyLink Arena, Boise
Maverik Center, West Valley City (Utah Grizzlies)
Reno Convention Center
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas
Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs (Gold Kings, not Colorado College)
Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque (heh, Coliseum, chuckle... that really is a barn)
Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield
Save Mart Center, Fresno
Stockton Arena (Thunder and Heat)

Of course, if the WHL arenas count, two others that should:
Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee
Ralph Englestad Arena, Grand Forks (UND of course)

...and if there's a sentimental favorite that you'll never see (or want to), and certainly wasn't pro (but an arena rather than your average rec rink), just for rustic charm, AFTER you experience the Hell of getting there and staying there...

Butte Civic Center. Montana.

This coming winter looks like the year I finally get some Canadian WHL games, unless I find a trip to Rapid City too enticing.

There is nothing quite like the Ralph... and I'm including the 10 current NHL arenas I've visited.

Boise is rather interesting. The Orleans was fun for obvious reasons... though I may have sold my wife on timing a Vegas trip with a Knights game after New Year's.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Just the Indiana Farmers Coliseum for one CHL Ice game and two ECHL Fuel games.

Would try the other two in the state if the Thunderbolts go to ECHL.

Who are the Thunderbolts?

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

I don't remember all the arena corporate names, so going with the home team.
Reading Royals
Hershey Bears
WBS Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
NY Rangers
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wheeling Nailers
Johnstown Chiefs
Elmira Jackals
Albany River Rats
Manchester Monarchs (AHL)
Roanoke Express
Richmond Renegades
Charlotte Checkers
Greensboro Generals
Pee Dee Pride
Augusta Lynx
Pensacola IcePilots
Florida Everblades
South Carolina Stingrays
Columbia Inferno
Trenton Titans and Devils
AC Boardwalk Bullies
Las Vegas Wranglers
Texas Wildcatters
Mississippi SeaWolves
Dayton Bombers
Stockton Thunder
Toledo Storm
Toledo Walleye (different buildings)
Long Beach Ice Dogs
Greenville Grrrowl
Peoria Rivermen (ECHL)
Louisiana Ice Gators (ECHL)
Lexington Men O War
Gwinnett Gladiators
Cincinnati Cyclones
Idaho Steelheads
Utah Grizzlies
Kalamazoo Wings
Binghamton Senators
Saw two games in the LNAH about 10 years ago, one I think was in St Hyacinthe, can't remember the other town.
Also saw a few pre-season games at various rec-rinks.

At one point I was only a few cities away from having seen a game at every ECHL rink, but that was before the CHL teams came in. With several teams leaving a new teams being added I have 16 new cities to hit. Maybe someday when I retire I'll try again.

Holy **** that's a lot. Really reminds you how much this league has geographically changed though. The Southern teams had cool names, usually.

 

[royals119]

Holy **** that's a lot. Really reminds you how much this league has geographically changed though. The Southern teams had cool names, usually.

There were a few years when my wife and I attended almost every Royals game, home or away. We missed out on some of the earlier southern teams though. New Orleans Brass, Baton Rouge Kingfish, Columbus Cottonmouths, Mobile Mystics and Macon Whoopee were all in the league in the early days of the Royals, but the Royals didn't face them prior to their folding. Those were the glory days of minor league southern hockey when the ECHL had a southeast and southwest division, and I think Roanoke and Richmond were in the northeast division to make things more even. In 2001 there were 21 teams in the league located south of the Mason-Dixon line.

 

[GindyDraws]

Who are the Thunderbolts?

Evansville Thunderbolts.

They replaced the IceMen last year.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Evansville Thunderbolts.

They replaced the IceMen last year.

For what league is that? I'm guessing not SPHL its kind of out of the footprint.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

There were a few years when my wife and I attended almost every Royals game, home or away. We missed out on some of the earlier southern teams though. New Orleans Brass, Baton Rouge Kingfish, Columbus Cottonmouths, Mobile Mystics and Macon Whoopee were all in the league in the early days of the Royals, but the Royals didn't face them prior to their folding. Those were the glory days of minor league southern hockey when the ECHL had a southeast and southwest division, and I think Roanoke and Richmond were in the northeast division to make things more even. In 2001 there were 21 teams in the league located south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Too many teams in too many places that were probably pipedreams but I agree it made things interesting. The Southern teams usually had the most creative names. I'll still never understand what went wrong in Roanoke and Richmond they've had multiple goes at hockey and Roanoke has it again.

 

[210]

For what league is that? I'm guessing not SPHL its kind of out of the footprint.

Ummm...they aren't even the most northern team in the SPHL.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

Ummm...they aren't even the most northern team in the SPHL.

Its not even the north, its the Midwest. More northern areas would make more sense than the Midwest region for a league like this.

 

[SemireliableSource]

Would make sense? Yes, let's get some teams up in PA, NY, and NJ. That'll help bridge the gap between the league's core and Peoria. Never mind the fact that Evansville does just that.

 

[210]

Its not even the north, its the Midwest. More northern areas would make more sense than the Midwest region for a league like this.

You should stop where you're behind...Peoria, which has an SPHL team, is northwest of Evansville.

 

[HisIceness]

*Some of these I've only been too for events other than Hockey.

Spectrum Center (Charlotte Checkers ECHL and AHL, also home to NBAs Hornets)
Bojangles Coliseum (See above)
Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro Generals and also temporary home for the Canes in the 90's)
*LJVMC Annex in Winston-Salem, NC (Twin City Cyclones I think was their name)
Asheville Civic Center (Smoke and Aces)
Carolina Coliseum (Columbia Inferno)
*North Charleston Coliseum (SC Stingrays)
Dorton Arena (Raleigh Icecaps)

I've seen the Fayetteville Crown Coliseum before but I'm not sure I've ever actually stepped foot in the building.

The Winston-Salem Annex is/was not a winner. Right next door is the 14k seat LJVM Coliseum which hosts Wake Forest Demon Deacons Basketball, a much nicer and more modern facility but wasn't built with Hockey in mind.

The Carolina Coliseum was an odd building for Hockey. Every seat was right above the action so those who sat in the lower seats got to sit right above the benches. This facility was once home to USC Mens and women's Basketball but they moved into the more modern Colonial Life Center in 2002. Interestingly the CLC was built to be the home of the Inferno as well but IIRC the AD at USC didn't want them playing there. They tried building a new arena in the suburbs but nothing ever got off the ground.

I am not a fan of Bojangles Coliseum, the current home of the Checkers. It's an outdated arena in a bad part of town with nothing around it. Much prefer they move back to Spectrum Center.

Dorton Arena is/was strange. Google it and you will see why.

Greensboro Coliseum is absolutely massive. It's actually bigger than the now-demolished Charlotte Coliseum.

Nothing notable about Asheville Civic Center or North Charleston Coliseum. The exterior of NCC is kind of ugly IMO. I was told it was supposed to be a nod to SC peaches.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

*Some of these I've only been too for events other than Hockey.

Spectrum Center (Charlotte Checkers ECHL and AHL, also home to NBAs Hornets)
Bojangles Coliseum (See above)
Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro Generals and also temporary home for the Canes in the 90's)
*LJVMC Annex in Winston-Salem, NC (Twin City Cyclones I think was their name)
Asheville Civic Center (Smoke and Aces)
Carolina Coliseum (Columbia Inferno)
*North Charleston Coliseum (SC Stingrays)
Dorton Arena (Raleigh Icecaps)

I've seen the Fayetteville Crown Coliseum before but I'm not sure I've ever actually stepped foot in the building.

The Winston-Salem Annex is/was not a winner. Right next door is the 14k seat LJVM Coliseum which hosts Wake Forest Demon Deacons Basketball, a much nicer and more modern facility but wasn't built with Hockey in mind.

The Carolina Coliseum was an odd building for Hockey. Every seat was right above the action so those who sat in the lower seats got to sit right above the benches. This facility was once home to USC Mens and women's Basketball but they moved into the more modern Colonial Life Center in 2002. Interestingly the CLC was built to be the home of the Inferno as well but IIRC the AD at USC didn't want them playing there. They tried building a new arena in the suburbs but nothing ever got off the ground.

I am not a fan of Bojangles Coliseum, the current home of the Checkers. It's an outdated arena in a bad part of town with nothing around it. Much prefer they move back to Spectrum Center.

Dorton Arena is/was strange. Google it and you will see why.

Greensboro Coliseum is absolutely massive. It's actually bigger than the now-demolished Charlotte Coliseum.

Nothing notable about Asheville Civic Center or North Charleston Coliseum. The exterior of NCC is kind of ugly IMO. I was told it was supposed to be a nod to SC peaches.

On these points - first I think the new arena's name is currently the Colonial Life Arena and they changed it to that from just Colonial Center. From what I understand the reason why the Inferno didn't move there was two-fold. First, the University stated that the bonds they used to finance the arena would become taxable if any professional team were to play there (despite having originally marketed the arena as offering the ability for Columbia to try to get an arena football team as well as a better home for the Inferno). From what I understand though, the team wasn't that interested either because the seating arrangement would have been awful - like near Barclay's level of awful.

I saw many a game in the Carolina Coliseum. Other "fun" features of it were that there was no netting anywhere in the arena (as well as no seating behind the goals), no "Jumbotron" style score clock (just a simple scoreboard above each goal) and you needed an oxygen tank and a sherpa to get up to the press box. Oh and the ice wasn't regulation. IIRC it was around the dimensions of the old Boston Garden.

 

[Royalsflagrunner77]

There were a few years when my wife and I attended almost every Royals game, home or away. We missed out on some of the earlier southern teams though. New Orleans Brass, Baton Rouge Kingfish, Columbus Cottonmouths, Mobile Mystics and Macon Whoopee were all in the league in the early days of the Royals, but the Royals didn't face them prior to their folding. Those were the glory days of minor league southern hockey when the ECHL had a southeast and southwest division, and I think Roanoke and Richmond were in the northeast division to make things more even. In 2001 there were 21 teams in the league located south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Damn bro you have me beat by a mile lmao

 

[Danbury102]

I can't keep up with name changes, so here were the arena names when I visited them along with the league(s) I saw there. Current names may vary.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ (IHL)
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV (IHL)
Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA (AHL)
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT (AHL)
Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT (AHL)
Danbury Arena, Danbury, CT (UHL, NEHL, EPHL, FHL)
Terry Conners Rink, Stamford, CT (NEHL)
Richard J Codey Arena, West Orange, NJ (EPHL)
Ice Time Sports Complex, Newburgh, NY (EPHL)
Veterans Memorial Ice Rink, East Haven, CT (NEPHL)
Aviator Arena, Brooklyn, NY (FHL)
Bonnie Castle Recreation Center, Alexandria Bay, NY (FHL)
Ice Vault Arena, Wayne, NJ (FHL)
Colisée de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC (LNAH)

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Does the Amway Center count?

 

[HansH]

Minor Pro (18):
San Diego Sports Arena/Valley View Casino Center (WCHL/ECHL/AHL Gulls)
Long Beach Arena (WCHL/ECHL Ice Dogs)
Citizens Business Bank Arena (ECHL/AHL Ontario Reign)
Rabobank Arena (WCHL/ECHL Bakersfield Condors)
Selland Arena (WCHL/ECHL Fresno Falcons)
Orleans Casino Arena (ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum (WCHL Phoenix Mustangs)
Tarrant Country Convention Center (WPHL Fort Worth Brahmas)
AT&T Center (AHL San Antonio Rampage)
Allstate Arena (AHL Chicago Wolves)
US Cellular Coliseum (UHL Bloomington Prairie Thunder)
Von Braun Arena (SPHL Huntsville Havoc)
Silver Spurs Arena - Kissimmee (SPHL Florida Seals)
The Scope (AHL Norfolk Admirals)
First Union Arena (AHL Philadelphia Phantoms)
Santander Arena (ECHL Reading Royals)
XL Center (AHL Hartford WolfPack)
Amway Arena (NHL Tampa Bay pre-season)

Junior (2):
All Seasons Arena (SJHL Minot Americans)
Verdun Auditorium (QMJHL Junior de Montreal)

International Pro Arenas (1):
London (UK) Docklands Arena (BISL London Knights)

NHL Arenas (12):
Great Western Forum (LA Kings)
Staples Center (LA Kings)
Honda Center (Anaheim Ducks)
Compaq Center (San Jose Sharks)
Rogers Arena (Vancouver Canucks)
The Saddledome (Calgary Flames)
American Airlines Center (Dallas Stars)
Joe Louis Arena (Detroit Red Wings)
Phillips Arena (Atlanta Thrashers)
Cap Center (Washington Capitals)
Verizon Arena (Washington Capitals)
Madison Square Garden (NY Rangers pre-season)

I think that covers it.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

NHL:

Centre Bell - Montreal
ScotiaBank Place - Ottawa
AirCanada Centre - Toronto
Madison Square Garden - NYR
Nassau Coliseum - NYI
Barclays Center - NYI
Meadowlands Arena - NJD
First Niagara Center - Buffalo
Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia
Civic Arena - Pittsburgh
ScottTrade Center - St. Louis

AHL:
Spectrum - Philadelphia
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
Copps Coliseum - Hamilton
WebsterBank Arena - Bridgeport
TimeWarner Cable Arena - Charlotte
Blue Cross Arena - Rochester

ECHL:
Trenton
Johnstown
Reading
Wheeling
Toledo (Old)
Cincinnati (Riverfront Coliseum)
Dayton (Nutter Center)
Richmond
Greensboro
Charlotte (Bojangles)
Pee Dee
South Carolina
Greenville
Gwinnett
Florida
Mississippi
Jackson
Texas
Augusta
Knoxville
Birmingham
Atlantic City
Peoria
Columbia
Louisiana

SPHL:
Huntsville
Louisiana
Fayetteville

Probably about 10 more in various leagues that I'm missing.

 

[GreenHornet]

Buildings currently still standing and in operation:
Infinite Energy Arena, formerly Arena at Gwinnett Center (Duluth, Ga.) (ECHL's Gladiators)
Cajundome (Lafayette, La.) (IceGators during their ECHL days)
Riverside Centroplex (Baton Rouge, La.) (ECHL's Kingfish)
Smoothie King Center (a.k.a. Baby Dome, New Orleans) (ECHL's Brass)
Mississippi Coast Coliseum (Biloxi, Miss.) (ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves)
Mobile (Ala.) Civic Center (ECHL's Mobile Mysticks)
Birmingham-Jefferson (Ala.) Civic Center (ECHL's Bulls)
Bay Center (Pensacola, Fla.) (ECHL's Penascola Ice Pilots)
Bi-Lo Center, or whatever it's called now (Greenville, S.C.) (ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl)
Macon (Ga.) Centreplex (SPHL's Whoopees)
Columbus (Ga.) Civic Center (SPHL's Cottonmouths)
Peoria (Ill.) Civic Center (Rivermen from the ECHL days)
Lake Charles (La.) Civic Center (WPHL's Ice Pirates)
Crown Coliseum (Fayetteville, N.C.) (SPHL's FireAntz)
San Diego Sports Arena (or whatever it's called now) (Gulls from back in the days of the IHL)

Barns either no longer standing or not in use:
Omni (Atlanta) (IHL Knights)
Morris F.X. Jeff Municipal Auditorium (New Orleans) (also the ECHL Brass)

 

[ckg927]

OK, my list. Most of this is OHL unless noted otherwise:

Barrie Molson Centre
Hershey Centre
Meridian Centre
North Bay Memorial Gardens
Sudbury Arena
Tullio Arena/Erie Insurance Arena
Sleeman Centre
Kitchener Memorial Gardens
Bayshore Community Centre
Dow Event Centre
Essar Centre
WFCU Centre
Copps Coliseum/FirstOntario Centre(when it was used by the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs)
General Motors Centre(or whatever they're calling Oshawa's arena now)
Peterborough Memorial Centre
TD Place Arena

Inactive:

Jack Gatecliff Arena

Others:

Dwyer Arena(Niagara U./Atlantic Hockey)
Blue Cross Arena(Rochester Americans/AHL)
Ricoh Coliseum(Toronto Marlies/AHL)
Powerade Centre(when it was home to the OHL's Brampton Batallion)
Mellon Arena(former home of the Pittsburgh Penguins)
Joe Louis Arena(former home of the Detroit Red Wings)
Canadian Tire Centre(Ottawa Senators/NHL)

 

[HisIceness]

Forgot to add one: Bi-Lo Center in Greenville SC. Has a different name now. Good building, decent seats, nice location (Downtown Greenville is execllent for a city of its size).

On these points - first I think the new arena's name is currently the Colonial Life Arena and they changed it to that from just Colonial Center. From what I understand the reason why the Inferno didn't move there was two-fold. First, the University stated that the bonds they used to finance the arena would become taxable if any professional team were to play there (despite having originally marketed the arena as offering the ability for Columbia to try to get an arena football team as well as a better home for the Inferno). From what I understand though, the team wasn't that interested either because the seating arrangement would have been awful - like near Barclay's level of awful.

I saw many a game in the Carolina Coliseum. Other "fun" features of it were that there was no netting anywhere in the arena (as well as no seating behind the goals), no "Jumbotron" style score clock (just a simple scoreboard above each goal) and you needed an oxygen tank and a sherpa to get up to the press box. Oh and the ice wasn't regulation. IIRC it was around the dimensions of the old Boston Garden.

Ooh yeah, forgot about that. The visiting players never really seemed to adjust well to it.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Forgot to add one: Bi-Lo Center in Greenville SC. Has a different name now. Good building, decent seats, nice location (Downtown Greenville is execllent for a city of its size).



Ooh yeah, forgot about that. The visiting players never really seemed to adjust well to it.

Bi-Lo is now Bon Secours Wellness Arena, home of the Rangers ECHL Affiliate, the Swamp Rabbits

 

[TcNorth]

My list includes all minor pro leagues, except for the Flint Firebirds and Warriors


MICHIGAN

Flint Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center DFCUE IHL, COHL, UHL, NAHL, OHL (Generals, Spirit, Warriors, Firebirds)
Saginaw Civic Center (Wendler Arena) IHL, COHL, UHL (Gears, Lumberkings, Generals, Spirit)
Kalamazoo Wings Stadium IHL (Wings)
Port Huron McMorran Place IHL, COHL, UHL (Flags, Border Cats, Beacons, Ice Hawks)
Fraser MI Arena COHL, UHL (Falcons, Mechanics)
Muskegon L.C. Walker Arena IHL, COHL, UHL (Mohawks, Fury, Lumber Jacks)
Lapeer, MI Polar Palace Arena AAHA (Loggers)
Detroit Joe Louis Arena NHL (Red Wings)

OHIO

Toledo Sports Arena IHL (Goaldiggers)

INDIANA

Fort Wayne War Memorial Coliseum IHL (Comets)
Indianapolis State Fairgrounds Coliseum IHL (Checkers)

IOWA/ILLINOIS

Quad City Mallards UHL (Mallards)

ONTARIO

Brantford Civic Center COHL (Smoke)
St. Thomas Thomas-Elgin Memorial Center COHL (Wildcats)
Chatam Memorial Arena COHL (Wheels)



COHL = Colonial Hockey League (Minor Pro)
UHL = United Hockey League (Minor Pro)
IHL = International Hockey League (Minor/Major Pro)
AAHL = All American Hockey League (Minor Pro)
NAHL = North American Hockey League (Tier II Junior)
OHL = Ontario Hockey League (Major Junior)


NOTES: Was on one of 16 Flint fan busses in 1984 that went to the Toledo Sports Arena to see the Flint Generals win it's first ever championship 4-0 to win the IHL's Turner Cup. Was in attendance in Flint when they won the Colonial Cup over the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats 4-2 in 1996. Was also in attendance in 2000 when Flint beat the Quad City Mallards 4-0 for the Colonial Cup.