Fort William Gardens
Encyclopedia
The Fort William Gardens is a 4,690-capacity (3,371-seat) multi-purpose arena
, in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
, Canada
. It opened in 1951.
Previous tenants include the Thunder Bay Flyers
, of the 'Junior A' United States Hockey League
, the Thunder Bay Senators/Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
, of the Colonial Hockey League (which became the United Hockey League
) and the Thunder Bay Twins
(senior men's hockey). Since 2001, the Gardens has been home to the Lakehead Thunderwolves men's university hockey program and has also played host to a Superior International Junior Hockey League
team. The Thunder Bay Bulldogs
called the Gardens home, from 2001 to 2005, then were replaced by the Fort William North Stars
.
The Gardens has hosted the 1975 Allan Cup
, the 1988 Allan Cup
, and 1991 Allan Cup
, representing the Grand Championship of Canadian
Senior hockey.
The Gardens played host to the 1967 Memorial Cup
series in which the Toronto Marlboros
defeated the Port Arthur Marrs
for the national junior hockey championship.
The Gardens has also hosted several national curling
championships:
The arena has hosted concerts, Remembrance Day
Ceremonies, festivals, circuses and many other events.
The Fort William Gardens was completely renovated in 1995.
The future of the Gardens is uncertain. Most concerts are now performed at the more intimate Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
, which seats approximately 1,500. Lakehead University has proposed working with the city to build a new, larger arena and convention centre to replace the Gardens. City council has agreed for the need for such an arena, but believes that the Gardens is still in usable condition. City council turned down the most recent proposal in October 2006. In February 2007, city council decided to lease a new boiler for the facility, holding off a decision to purchase a new one in the event that a replacement is successfully approved.
In November 2009, Thunder Bay city manager Tim Commisso put forward a report with a plan to pay for future infrastructure projects, including a $70 to 128 million replacement for the Gardens. The report, was approved in principle, and plans are now underway to decide on the right location. With Thunder Bay being named a frontrunner in the possible relocation of the AHL's Manitoba Moose, it seems more likely than ever that this facility will be built sooner rather than later.
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 Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It opened in 1951.
Previous tenants include the Thunder Bay Flyers
Thunder Bay Flyers
The Thunder Bay Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.-History:On July 6, 1980, the Degagne Buccaneers and Thunder Bay North Stars were informed by the TBAHA that they would not be permitted to field teams in the 1980-81 City League...
, of the 'Junior A' United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
, the Thunder Bay Senators/Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
, of the Colonial Hockey League (which became the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
) and the Thunder Bay Twins
Thunder Bay Twins
The Thunder Bay Twins were a Canadian Amateur Senior and Professional ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The Twins won five Allan Cups as National Senior Champions from 1970 until 1991.-Merger:...
(senior men's hockey). Since 2001, the Gardens has been home to the Lakehead Thunderwolves men's university hockey program and has also played host to a Superior International Junior Hockey League
Superior International Junior Hockey League
The Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern...
team. The Thunder Bay Bulldogs
Thunder Bay Bulldogs
The Thunder Bay Bulldogs were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from the Port Arthur section of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:...
called the Gardens home, from 2001 to 2005, then were replaced by the Fort William North Stars
Fort William North Stars
The Thunder Bay North Stars are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:...
.
History
The Gardens has a long history of hockey, however, the isolation of Thunder Bay and travel costs have prevented the Gardens from retaining most teams. It once hosted an NHL pre-season game in 1993 between the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals, and two pre-season AHL games in 2002 with St. John's Maple Leafs vs. Manitoba Moose, and 2 in 2003 with Manitoba Moose vs. Toronto Roadrunners.The Gardens has hosted the 1975 Allan Cup
1975 Allan Cup
The 1975 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1974-75 Senior "A" season. The event was hosted by both Barrie and Thunder Bay, Ontario. The 1975 playoff marked the 67th time that the Allan Cup has been awarded.-Teams:...
, the 1988 Allan Cup
1988 Allan Cup
The 1988 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1987-88 Senior "AAA" season. The event was hosted by the Thunder Bay Twins in Thunder Bay, Ontario...
, and 1991 Allan Cup
1991 Allan Cup
The 1991 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1990-91 Senior "AAA" season. The event was hosted by the Thunder Bay Twins in Thunder Bay, Ontario...
, representing the Grand Championship of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Senior hockey.
The Gardens played host to the 1967 Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
series in which the Toronto Marlboros
Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
defeated the Port Arthur Marrs
Port Arthur Marrs
The Port Arthur Marrs were a junior ice hockey team that played in Port Arthur, Ontario . They were named for trucking company and sponsor W.H. Marr, Ltd., and contested the 1967 Memorial Cup, which they lost to the Toronto Marlboros.-History:The Marrs played out of the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey...
for the national junior hockey championship.
The Gardens has also hosted several national curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
championships:
- 1960 Tim Hortons BrierTim Hortons BrierThe Tim Hortons Brier, or simply the Brier, is the annual Canadian men's curling championship, sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association . The current event name refers to its main sponsor, the Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut shop chain.The Brier has been held since 1927, traditionally during...
- 1976 Women's Canadian Junior Curling ChampionshipsCanadian Junior Curling ChampionshipsThe Canadian Junior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament held to determine the best junior-level curling team in Canada. Junior level curlers must be under the age of 20 as of December 31 in the year prior to the tournament....
- 1991 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships.
- 1996 Scott Tournament of HeartsScotties Tournament of HeartsThe Scotties Tournament of Hearts is an annual Canadian women's curling championship, sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association. The winner goes on to represent Canada at the women's world curling championships. Since 1985, the winner also gets to return to the following year's tournament as...
- 2002 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Open (Grand Slam Event)
The arena has hosted concerts, Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
Ceremonies, festivals, circuses and many other events.
The Fort William Gardens was completely renovated in 1995.
Future
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium is a 1,511 seat performance arts centre, located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It opened on October 16, 1985 and is home to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra...
, which seats approximately 1,500. Lakehead University has proposed working with the city to build a new, larger arena and convention centre to replace the Gardens. City council has agreed for the need for such an arena, but believes that the Gardens is still in usable condition. City council turned down the most recent proposal in October 2006. In February 2007, city council decided to lease a new boiler for the facility, holding off a decision to purchase a new one in the event that a replacement is successfully approved.
In November 2009, Thunder Bay city manager Tim Commisso put forward a report with a plan to pay for future infrastructure projects, including a $70 to 128 million replacement for the Gardens. The report, was approved in principle, and plans are now underway to decide on the right location. With Thunder Bay being named a frontrunner in the possible relocation of the AHL's Manitoba Moose, it seems more likely than ever that this facility will be built sooner rather than later.