Essex Memorial Arena
Encyclopedia
The Essex Memorial Arena is an ice-hockey arena
in Essex, Ontario
, Canada. It was constructed in 1960-1961, and served as the home court for the Essex 73's
of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
from 1973–2009. During that time the 73's won 16 Great Lakes League Championships and a Provincial record 6 All Ontario Titles, The 2008–2009 season was to be the final year for the 73's at the Essex Memorial Arena and in that year the 73's captured the All Ontario crown finishing with a perfect 31-0 record in the Arena. The Arena will remain open for Essex Minor Hockey. A replacement arena was completed in September 2009.
, the Legion (Branch 201)
, and the Kinsmen Club of Essex. The Kinsmen Club of Essex were the first to initiate a challenge to the town to raise $50,000. The name of the arena was one of the first issues addressed. It was decided that it would be called Essex Memorial Arena as a way to honour the men who had fought and died in World War I
and World War II
.
nal stages of construction funds were drying up and $100,000 would be needed to complete it. Many felt that the project was just too big for the town. On June 19, 1961 the town went to the polls to settle the issue, voting 551 to 392 in favour of the arena loan. The loan was obtained and the building was completed within the year. The walls were made of 12” (30.5 cm) thick reinforced masonry blocks. The roof is supported by eleven trusses. The arena has heated dressing rooms, a canteen and 1054 seats. It took roughly 937 days to fully complete the arena. The Essex Memorial Arena Campaign Committee was then dissolved and the town took control and created an Arena Commission.
The arena officially opened on November 25, 1961.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Essex, Ontario
Essex, Ontario
Essex is a town with a population of 20,032 in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, whose municipal borders extend to Lake Erie. Essex is also the name of the largest community within the municipality. The present mayor is Ron McDermott...
, Canada. It was constructed in 1960-1961, and served as the home court for the Essex 73's
Essex 73's
The Essex 73's are a Junior "C" ice hockey team based in Essex, Ontario, Canada. The 73's are members of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey Association.-History:...
of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League
The Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League is a Junior "C" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association. The Champion of the Great Lakes will compete for the All-Ontario Championship and the Clarence Schmalz Cup....
from 1973–2009. During that time the 73's won 16 Great Lakes League Championships and a Provincial record 6 All Ontario Titles, The 2008–2009 season was to be the final year for the 73's at the Essex Memorial Arena and in that year the 73's captured the All Ontario crown finishing with a perfect 31-0 record in the Arena. The Arena will remain open for Essex Minor Hockey. A replacement arena was completed in September 2009.
History
The first records mentioning the potential of an artificial rink for Essex are from the mid 1950s. The idea grew and by March 1956 the Parks Board created an Arena Committee, which it named the Essex Memorial Arena Campaign Committee, and appointed members from the Essex Rotary ClubRotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, the Legion (Branch 201)
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
, and the Kinsmen Club of Essex. The Kinsmen Club of Essex were the first to initiate a challenge to the town to raise $50,000. The name of the arena was one of the first issues addressed. It was decided that it would be called Essex Memorial Arena as a way to honour the men who had fought and died in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Indoor or outdoor arena?
The first arena proposed by the committee was an outdoor arena. An outdoor arena could only function from December 1 to April 15. Its design was so a roof could be easily added. The committee soon changed the original proposal from an outdoor arena to a closed arena due to economic benefits. It was $15,000 more expensive for the freezing equipment for an outdoor rink than for an indoor rink, and the utility cost for the outdoor rink would have been much higher. Another bonus to having an indoor rink was the longer skating season; 6 months compared to 4½. With 10,000 people in the area surrounding Essex it would not take long before the arena would pay for itself.Completing the construction
The Essex community was not completely supportive of the arena building project. They feared the arena would increase water rates in town, and that the arena was an unsafe structure. By the final stages of construction funds were drying up and $100,000 would be needed to complete it. Many felt that the project was just too big for the town. On June 19, 1961 the town went to the polls to settle the issue, voting 551 to 392 in favour of the arena loan. The loan was obtained and the building was completed within the year. The walls were made of 12” (30.5 cm) thick reinforced masonry blocks. The roof is supported by eleven trusses. The arena has heated dressing rooms, a canteen and 1054 seats. It took roughly 937 days to fully complete the arena. The Essex Memorial Arena Campaign Committee was then dissolved and the town took control and created an Arena Commission.
The arena officially opened on November 25, 1961.