John Labatt Centre
Encyclopedia
The John Labatt Centre is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario
, Canada
-- the largest such centre in southwestern Ontario.
The John Labatt Centre, usually referred to as the "JLC", opened on October 11, 2002. It is named after John Labatt
, founder of the Labatt brewery in London. Labatt still has a large brewery in London to the present day, although its head office was moved to Toronto in the early 1990s.
The JLC was built, in part, to be the new downtown
home of London's Ontario Hockey League
team, the London Knights
, replacing the 40-year-old London Ice House
in the south end of the city, near Highway 401
. Starting in 2011, it will be home to London's National Basketball League of Canada
team, the London Lightning
.
. The Corporation is owned in turn by multiple parties, including The City of London, EllisDon, and Global Spectrum, the Philadelphia-based company that also manages the centre, and operates more than 40 other arenas, stadiums and convention centres. Because of this, the Philadelphia Flyers
, a corporate cousin of Global Spectrum, customarily have played a preseason game at the John Labatt Centre each year.
In addition to the standard end stage configuration for large concerts, the arena can be set up to accommodate touring Broadway shows or smaller concerts in its theatre mode. The theatre mode features a small, intimate atmosphere and a 30-line fly grid to suspend scenery or lighting and sound.
The centre features 38 luxury suites and more than 1,000 club seats.
The JLC complies with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act
and has 55 per cent more public restrooms than required by the law.
The arena formerly sold tickets through Ticketmaster
. On August 1, 2005, the arena switched ticketing systems and now uses an in-house system, provided by New Era Tickets
(itself a subsidiary of one of the arena's partners). The arena is consistently listed in industry magazines for its high ticket sales. In late 2005, Pollstar magazine
, a concert industry publication, listed the JLC as 21st on its list of top arena venues in the world, based on ticket sales for the first nine months of 2005. The three-year-old JLC attracted 189,026 concert-goers in the first nine months of 2005.
-based construction company, EllisDon Corp., builders of Toronto
's Rogers Centre
. The land was purchased for $10 million.
The construction of this sports-entertainment centre was decided upon as a part of the city government's overall effort to revitalize the city's downtown. As part of that effort, London city council committed to building the centre, and agreed to fund much of the cost, which has amounted to about $4.5 million a year in debt financing so far. Another controversial part of the management deal is that while revenue at the centre has been much higher than forecast, the city's share has been minimal, about $100,000 a year, with much of the balance going to the London Civic Centre Corporation, the public-private partnership
that owns the arena. Many businesses close to the centre also report that they have benefitted as a result of the increased number of people coming downtown.
The JLC's million-dollar facade at its northeast corner is a replica of the Talbot Inn using "retumbled" yellow brick (new yellow bricks that have been scuffed up and scarred to appear old).
The Talbot Inn is a 19th century building that stood on the site for more than 125 years—a designated heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act (facade only via a registered heritage easement).
Originally planning to re-use the old bricks from the Talbot Inn on the northeast facade of the JLC, the City of London suddenly had the building demolished on the morning of Sunday, June 3, 2001—without a demolition permit or delisting the Talbot Inn's facade as a designated heritage property.
Instead, the City of London had previously obtained a "heritage alteration permit", permits which are routinely used for minor changes to heritage properties, changes that don't affect the by-law reasons for designation.
According to officials with the Ontario Heritage Foundation (now called the Ontario Heritage Trust), it is the first known time in Ontario's history and possibly Canada's, that a "heritage alteration permit" was misused to outright demolish a designated heritage property.
The rationale cited by civic officials was that the Talbot Inn bricks were not salvageable due to their moisture content after a contractor had power-washed the paint off the bricks. Some of the original bricks, however, were used for the interior walls of the restaurant on the JLC's second level and the rest were trucked to TRY Recycling in London where they were re-sold.
No charges were ever laid against the City of London under the Ontario Heritage Act for the unusual demolition and the facade of the Talbot Inn remained designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for approximately 17 months after it was demolished.
The JLC hosted the 2005 Memorial Cup
, the CHL championship series which the Knights also won after winning the OHL championship.
The University of Western Ontario
Mustangs hockey team used the JLC as their home arena from 2005 until 2007. They have since moved back to Thompson Arena.http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/UniversitySports/2007/06/12/4253444-sun.html
In addition to hockey, the JLC is host to national-level events, such as the 2005 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, the 2006 Scott Tournament of Hearts
(curling),the 2007 World Synchronized Skating Championships
, 2011 Tim Hortons Brier
, as well as a wide variety of family entertainment such as Disney on Ice
, the Harlem Globetrotters
, Monster Jam
, World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) wrestling, and Stars on Ice
. It also hosted an international jousting
tournament two years in a row. The arena will also be hosting the 2013 World Figure Skating championships.
It has also hosted fair amount of WWE televised events including SmackDown in 2003, Raw in 2004, SmackDown and ECW in 2007 and SmackDown and ECW in 2008.
Sting performed during his Symphonicities
Tour on July 21, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
.
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, 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...
-- the largest such centre in southwestern Ontario.
The John Labatt Centre, usually referred to as the "JLC", opened on October 11, 2002. It is named after John Labatt
John Kinder Labatt
John Kinder Labatt was an Irish-Canadian brewer, and the founder of the Labatt Brewing Company.Born in County Laoighis, Ireland, Labatt immigrated to Canada in the 1830s and initially established himself as a farmer near London, Upper Canada. In 1847 he invested in a brewery with a partner, Samuel...
, founder of the Labatt brewery in London. Labatt still has a large brewery in London to the present day, although its head office was moved to Toronto in the early 1990s.
The JLC was built, in part, to be the new downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
home of London's Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
team, the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
, replacing the 40-year-old London Ice House
London Ice House
The London Ice House is an arena in London, Ontario, Canada. It was originally built in 1963 and was home to the London Knights ice hockey team from 1965-2002. The arena had a capacity of 5,075 and was originally known as Treasure Island Gardens, but most notably known as the London Gardens, from...
in the south end of the city, near Highway 401
Highway 401 (Ontario)
King's Highway 401, also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway and colloquially as the four-oh-one, is a 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario stretching from Windsor to the Quebec border...
. Starting in 2011, it will be home to London's National Basketball League of Canada
National Basketball League of Canada
The National Basketball League of Canada is a Canadian professional men's basketball league founded in 2011. For the first season, three teams formerly of the Premier Basketball League have joined, with four expansion teams officially joining to form the NBL's "Original Seven".-Current:These are...
team, the London Lightning
London Lightning
The London Lightning is a charter member of the National Basketball League of Canada set to begin play for the 2011-12 season. Based in London, Ontario, the Lightning will play its home games at the John Labatt Centre....
.
Ownership and management
The John Labatt Centre is owned by the London Civic Centre Corporation, an example of a public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
. The Corporation is owned in turn by multiple parties, including The City of London, EllisDon, and Global Spectrum, the Philadelphia-based company that also manages the centre, and operates more than 40 other arenas, stadiums and convention centres. Because of this, the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, a corporate cousin of Global Spectrum, customarily have played a preseason game at the John Labatt Centre each year.
Seating and ticketing
Approximate capacities:- 9,100 - Hockey
- 9,000 - End stage concert
- 3,200 - Theatre mode (smaller concert)
- 2,800 - Theatre mode (with prosceniumProsceniumA proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
) - 10,200 - Centre stage concert
In addition to the standard end stage configuration for large concerts, the arena can be set up to accommodate touring Broadway shows or smaller concerts in its theatre mode. The theatre mode features a small, intimate atmosphere and a 30-line fly grid to suspend scenery or lighting and sound.
The centre features 38 luxury suites and more than 1,000 club seats.
The JLC complies with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Ontarians with Disabilities Act
The Ontarians with Disabilities Act is the short title of the Ontario Government's Bill 125 - "An Act to improve the identification, removal and prevention of barriers faced by persons with disabilities and to make related amendments to other Acts". The Act received Royal Assent on 14 December 2001...
and has 55 per cent more public restrooms than required by the law.
The arena formerly sold tickets through Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...
. On August 1, 2005, the arena switched ticketing systems and now uses an in-house system, provided by New Era Tickets
New Era Tickets
New Era Tickets is an entertainment ticketing company located in Exton, Pennsylvania . The company provides full-service ticketing and fan marketing solutions for public assembly facilities, sports organizations, and entertainment companies....
(itself a subsidiary of one of the arena's partners). The arena is consistently listed in industry magazines for its high ticket sales. In late 2005, Pollstar magazine
Pollstar
Pollstar is a concert tour industry's leading trade publication that gets its information primarily from the agents, managers and promoters who are producing concerts. Founded in 1981, it is based in Fresno, California and has an office in London with correspondents in six countries. Pollstar is...
, a concert industry publication, listed the JLC as 21st on its list of top arena venues in the world, based on ticket sales for the first nine months of 2005. The three-year-old JLC attracted 189,026 concert-goers in the first nine months of 2005.
History, construction and controversy
The John Labatt Centre was built at a cost of approximately $42 million by the London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
-based construction company, EllisDon Corp., builders of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
. The land was purchased for $10 million.
The construction of this sports-entertainment centre was decided upon as a part of the city government's overall effort to revitalize the city's downtown. As part of that effort, London city council committed to building the centre, and agreed to fund much of the cost, which has amounted to about $4.5 million a year in debt financing so far. Another controversial part of the management deal is that while revenue at the centre has been much higher than forecast, the city's share has been minimal, about $100,000 a year, with much of the balance going to the London Civic Centre Corporation, the public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
that owns the arena. Many businesses close to the centre also report that they have benefitted as a result of the increased number of people coming downtown.
The Talbot Inn
The Talbot Inn is a 19th century building that stood on the site for more than 125 years—a designated heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act (facade only via a registered heritage easement).
Originally planning to re-use the old bricks from the Talbot Inn on the northeast facade of the JLC, the City of London suddenly had the building demolished on the morning of Sunday, June 3, 2001—without a demolition permit or delisting the Talbot Inn's facade as a designated heritage property.
Instead, the City of London had previously obtained a "heritage alteration permit", permits which are routinely used for minor changes to heritage properties, changes that don't affect the by-law reasons for designation.
According to officials with the Ontario Heritage Foundation (now called the Ontario Heritage Trust), it is the first known time in Ontario's history and possibly Canada's, that a "heritage alteration permit" was misused to outright demolish a designated heritage property.
The rationale cited by civic officials was that the Talbot Inn bricks were not salvageable due to their moisture content after a contractor had power-washed the paint off the bricks. Some of the original bricks, however, were used for the interior walls of the restaurant on the JLC's second level and the rest were trucked to TRY Recycling in London where they were re-sold.
No charges were ever laid against the City of London under the Ontario Heritage Act for the unusual demolition and the facade of the Talbot Inn remained designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for approximately 17 months after it was demolished.
The "Talbot Tot"
Prior to the construction of the JLC during an archaeological assessment of the property, the skeletal remains of an infant, believed to be from the 1830s or 1840s, were found in the soil at the site. The discovery caused an uproar and delayed construction for a few months and likely contributed to the sudden demolition of the Talbot Inn in 2001. The human remains were dubbed the "Talbot Tot" and subsequently were reinterred at Oakland (pioneer) Cemetery on Oxford Street West in London.Sporting events
Within a few years of opening, the London Knights had a spectacular championship season in the 2004-05 season and the centre was well positioned to take maximum advantage of the team's popularity.The JLC hosted the 2005 Memorial Cup
2005 Memorial Cup
The 2005 Memorial Cup was held May 21–29, 2005 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. The Cup tournament featured the champions from the Western Hockey League, the Kelowna Rockets, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Rimouski Océanic, the Ottawa 67's representing the Ontario Hockey...
, the CHL championship series which the Knights also won after winning the OHL championship.
The University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
Mustangs hockey team used the JLC as their home arena from 2005 until 2007. They have since moved back to Thompson Arena.http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/UniversitySports/2007/06/12/4253444-sun.html
In addition to hockey, the JLC is host to national-level events, such as the 2005 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, the 2006 Scott Tournament of Hearts
2006 Scott Tournament of Hearts
The 2006 Scott Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's curling championship, was held at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, February 25, 2006 – March 6, 2006. The tournament consists of 12 teams, one from each of Canada's provinces, one from Canada's territories and the defending...
(curling),the 2007 World Synchronized Skating Championships
World Synchronized Skating Championships
The World Synchronized Skating Championships are the world championships for the sport of synchronized skating. Held since 2000, the World Synchronized Skating Championships is an annual event organized by the International Skating Union and attracts the most elite synchronized skating teams from...
, 2011 Tim Hortons Brier
2011 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was be held March 5 until March 13, 2011 in London, Ontario at the John Labatt Centre...
, as well as a wide variety of family entertainment such as Disney on Ice
Disney on Ice
Disney On Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from...
, the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
, Monster Jam
Monster Jam
Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association and takes place primarily in the United States and around the world...
, World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) wrestling, and Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets...
. It also hosted an international jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
tournament two years in a row. The arena will also be hosting the 2013 World Figure Skating championships.
It has also hosted fair amount of WWE televised events including SmackDown in 2003, Raw in 2004, SmackDown and ECW in 2007 and SmackDown and ECW in 2008.
Other events
The arena has also hosted many other well known artists and Broadway Shows.Sting performed during his Symphonicities
Symphonicities
Symphonicities is the tenth studio album by English musician Sting, released on 13 July 2010 on Deutsche Grammophon. The album is a companion piece to the tour of the same name, in which Sting, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, reinterprets some of his songs as classical...
Tour on July 21, 2010, along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
.
| Other Shows | Date |
|---|---|
| Disney on Ice Disney on Ice Disney On Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from... |
Feb. 3,4,5 & 6 |
| Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is... |
Feb. 16 |
| Monster Jam Monster Jam Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association and takes place primarily in the United States and around the world... |
Feb. 19 & 20 |
| 2011 Tim Hortons Brier 2011 Tim Hortons Brier The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was be held March 5 until March 13, 2011 in London, Ontario at the John Labatt Centre... |
Mar. 5-13 |
| Sarah McLachlan Sarah McLachlan Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four... |
Mar. 19 |
| Professional Bull Riders Canada Cup Series | Apr. 2 |
| Harlem Globetrotters Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over... |
Apr. 10 |
| Jackson Browne Jackson Browne Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone.... |
Apr. 18 |
| Stars on Ice Stars on Ice Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets... |
May 1 |
| Grease Grease (musical) Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,... |
May 3 |
| MMA Live MMA Live MMA Live is a sports show about mixed martial arts. It is seen on ESPN2. The show features analysts such as Franklin McNeil, Pat Miletich, Kenny Florian and Rashad Evans. MMA Live was originally an Internet show, but made the move to television after positive reception... |
May 19 |
| Blue Man Group Blue Man Group Blue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight... |
July 6 & 7 |
| Keith Urban Keith Urban Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age... |
Sep. 12 |
| Oasis Oasis (band) Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher... |
December 15 |
| Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy... |
October 18 & 19 |
| Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy World Tour | january, 2010 |