Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center

Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center was an indoor multi-purpose venue, in Niagara Falls, New York, with a capacity of 10,000 people.

The venue was built as part of an urban renewal project in the city. It actually was built in the center of a main thoroughfare, Falls Street, and blocked traffic to the falls. It also eliminated of Jefferson Avenue and Erie Avenue, two main thoroughfares.

The building was designed by Johnson/Burgee Architects. Its hangar-like design, which detractors say resembles an overly large Quonset hut, was supposedly inspired by rainbows commonly seen at Niagara Falls. It was opened in 1973 to much fanfare. The ribbon was cut by several politicians, including then-Mayor E. Dent Lackey.

History

The facility played host to various sporting events, including boxing, professional wrestling and races while it was active.

It was home of the NCAA's Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball team.

In 2001, Joe Mesi defeated Jorge Luis Gonzalez and Bert Cooper, in separate professional boxing cards.

The former Convention center served as a world-class entertainment venue, during past Festival of Lights celebrations and throughout the years.

The venue played host to The Rolling Thunder Revue Tour on November 15, 1975, headed by Bob Dylan.

The venue struggled from the day it was open, and was largely to blame for the economic decline in Niagara Falls. Although it was the largest off-season tourist attraction in the city, it struggled until it was closed in 2002. It was later replaced by the smaller Niagara Falls Conference Center, which opened in 2004 in an abandoned entertainment complex.

Monster Jam tragedy (1992)

On March 8, 1992, the USHRA Monster Jam Circuit had a show at the center. During a race between Taurus and Bad Medicine, Bad Medicine's driver, Don Van Loo, had a bad landing off the set of cars. He smashed his head against the rollbar and was knocked out. The truck was still moving at the time, and preceded to maneuver out of control and crashed into the stands, killing 82-year old Lester Gilliam. Gilliam could have saved himself, but instead pushed a young child out of harm's way, sacrificing himself. Van Loo was not new to being knocked out during a run: 1 year ago, in Oklahoma City, when the truck was making its debut, Van Loo's truck leaped into the air and took a bad bounce. The impact knocked him out. His foot accidentally fell on to the throttle, which sent the truck ramming into the wall.^[1]

Present day

In 2002, the convention center was closed, modified and opened as a gaming casino, Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel which now occupies the site.

References

1. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/09/nyregion/82-year-old-man-is-killed-at-truck-show.html?pagewanted=1

External links

• Video of Bad Medicine accident (1992)