- Oncenter War Memorial Arena
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Oncenter War Memorial Arena Former names Onondaga War Memorial Location 800 South State Street
Syracuse, New York, USA 13202Coordinates 43°2′41″N 76°8′54″W / 43.04472°N 76.14833°WCoordinates: 43°2′41″N 76°8′54″W / 43.04472°N 76.14833°W Broke ground 1950 Opened September 12, 1951[1] Renovated 1994 Owner Onondaga County Operator Onondaga County Surface Multi-surface Construction cost $3,719,000[2]
($31.4 million in 2011 dollars[3])Architect Edgarton & Edgarton; Ammann & Whitney Capacity 8,000 (floor events)
6,159 (hockey)[4]Tenants Syracuse Warriors (AHL) (1951–1954)
Syracuse Nationals (NBA) (1951–1963)
Syracuse Eagles (AHL) (1974–1975)
Syracuse Blazers (NAHL) (1967-76)
Syracuse Firebirds (AHL) (1979–1980)
Syracuse Smash (NLL) (1997–2000)
Syracuse Soldiers (AIFL) (2006)
Syracuse Raging Bullz (ABA) (2007)
Syracuse Crunch (AHL) (1994–present)
Syracuse Silver Knights
(MISL) (2011- present)The War Memorial at Oncenter, originally the Onondaga War Memorial, is a 6,159-seat multi-purpose arena in Downtown Syracuse, New York. It is part of the Oncenter Complex.
Designed by Edgarton and Edgarton and built from 1949 through 1951, the structure is significant as an example of a World War I, World War II and Aroostook War commemorative[5] and as "an early and sophisticated example of single-span thin-shell [concrete roof] construction" [6]. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The War Memorial is home to the Syracuse Crunch Ice hockey team. For the 2011-12 Major Indoor Soccer League season War Memorial will be the home for the Syracuse Silver Knights.
Previous teams to call the War Memorial home included the NBA's Syracuse Nationals and several now-defunct American Hockey League teams. The Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in a deciding seventh game at home to win the 1954-1955 NBA Championship. The War Memorial also hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1961 and the NCAA Frozen Four in 1967 and 1971.
The 1977 film Slap Shot included the War Memorial among the various arenas used as shooting locations for in-game action[7].
Professional wrestling has also experienced its share of history at the War Memorial. Shortly after completion of filming of the World Championship Wrestling-produced film Ready to Rumble, actor David Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship title on April 26, 2000 in a taping of the company's weekly Thunder broadcast, which is often cited as being the first legitimate sign of the demise of WCW. It also hosted the first WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1995. In April 1998 the Oncenter hosted WWF Monday Night Raw. The Oncenter is occasionally host to WWE house shows.
It is also a prominent concert venue in the region, which includes various KISS, Bruce Springsteen, and Aerosmith shows among numerous others over the years.
On top of the arena's stage are the words, "In memory of our service veterans."
References
- ^ "Around...Our Town And Country". Warsaw Times. October 11, 1951. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tcpGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r3oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6319,3832023&dq=en.
- ^ "Cities to Vote on Bonds Issues over Billion". Chicago Tribune. November 5, 1951. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/498202412.html?dids=498202412:498202412&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+05%2C+1951&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=CITIES+TO+VOTE+ON+BOND+ISSUES+OF+OVER+BILLION&pqatl=google.
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ^ http://theahl.com/ahl-set-to-kick-off-75th-anniversary-season-p166418
- ^ LaFrank, Kathleen (October, 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Onondaga County War Memorial". http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=6369. Retrieved 2009-05-02.and Accompanying 21 photos, exterior and interior, from construction through 1988'
- ^ oprhp.state.ny.us
- ^ [1]
Events and tenants Preceded by
State Fair ColiseumHome of the
Syracuse Nationals
1951 – 1963Succeeded by
Convention Hall &
Philadelphia ArenaPreceded by
Convention HallHost of the
NBA All-Star Game
1961Succeeded by
Kiel AuditoriumPreceded by
Williams Arena
Minneapolis, MinnesotaHost of the
Frozen Four
1967Succeeded by
Duluth Arena
Duluth, MinnesotaPreceded by
Olympic Center
Lake Placid, New YorkHost of the
Frozen Four
1971Succeeded by
Boston Garden
Boston, MassachusettsCurrent arenas in the American Hockey League Eastern
ConferenceBroome County Veterans Memorial Arena · Cumberland County Civic Center · DCU Center · Dunkin' Donuts Center · Giant Center · Glens Falls Civic Center · MassMutual Center · Mile One Centre · Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza · Norfolk Scope · Times Union Center · Verizon Wireless Arena · War Memorial at Oncenter · Webster Bank Arena · XL CenterWestern
ConferenceAbbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre · Allstate Arena · AT&T Center · BMO Harris Bank Center · Blue Cross Arena · Bradley Center · Carver Arena · Cedar Park Center · Copps Coliseum · Cox Convention Center · Quicken Loans Arena · Ricoh Coliseum · Time Warner Cable Arena · Toyota Center · Van Andel ArenaTeams Active: Baltimore Blast • Milwaukee Wave • Missouri Comets • Norfolk SharX • Rochester Lancers • Syracuse Silver Knights • Wichita Wings
Arenas Active: 1st Mariner Arena • U.S. Cellular Arena • Independence Events Center • Norfolk Scope • Blue Cross Arena • Oncenter War Memorial Arena • Hartman Arena
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- Arena football venues
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Indoor lacrosse venues in the United States
- College ice hockey venues in the United States
- Basketball venues in New York
- Syracuse Crunch
- Defunct National Basketball Association venues
- Sports venues in New York
- Sports venues in Onondaga County, New York
- Buildings and structures in Syracuse, New York
- Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in New York
- Indoor soccer venues in the United States
- New York sports venue stubs
- Onondaga County, New York Registered Historic Place stubs
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