WFCU Centre

WFCU Centre
Full name	Windsor Family Credit Union Centre
Coordinates	42°19′07″N 82°55′40″W / 42.3186°N 82.9279°W / 42.3186; -82.9279
Broke ground	January 22, 2007[1]
Built	2007–2008
Opened	2008
Owner	City of Windsor
Operator	City of Windsor / Global Spectrum Facility Management
Scoreboard	8 sided, 24 feet in diameter
Construction cost	$71,000,000 CDN[1]
Architect	BBB Architects
Services engineer	Maple Industries
General Contractor	PCR Contractors
Capacity	6,500
Field dimensions	302,000 square feet
Tenants
Windsor Spitfires (OHL)	2008-

The WFCU Centre is a sports-entertainment centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It opened on December 11, 2008, and it is named after the Windsor Family Credit Union, a local financial institution. It is located in the east end of the city, northeast of the intersection of Tecumseh and Lauzon Roads.

The WFCU Centre was built, in part, to be the new home of the city's Ontario Hockey League team, the Windsor Spitfires, replacing the 84-year-old Windsor Arena.

Ownership and management

The WFCU Centre is owned by the City of Windsor. City council approved the project on October 4, 2006, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 22, 2007. The WFCU Centre is managed by Global Spectrum, a Philadelphia-based company, which also operates more than 100 other arenas, stadiums and convention centres.

Seating and ticketing

Approximate capacities:

• 6,500 - Hockey
• 6,000 - End stage concert
• 3,000 – Small concert stage
• 2,100 - Theatre mode
• 7,500 - 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.

The centre features 35 luxury suites and more than 600 club seats.

The WFCU Centre complies with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The WFCU Centre uses an in-house system, provided by New Era Tickets.

History

The WFCU Centre was built at a cost of approximately $71 million by the Windsor, Ontario-based construction company, PCR Contractors. The land was purchased from London, Ontario developer Farhi Holdings Corporation. The construction of this sports-entertainment centre was decided upon as a part of the city government’s overall effort to add excitement to the economy. As part of that effort, Windsor city council committed to building the centre, and agreed to fund most of the cost.

During the initial stages of planning, several other committees and companies proposed building arenas and venues in the area, including a privately owned skating arena, as well as proposed a relocation of the Windsor Raceway Slots to Tecumseh, Ontario, owned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. That project was known as Ice Track.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Arena kickoff ends 30 years of waiting". Windsor Star. 2007-01-22. http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=700dfcbe-9319-4c45-9eb3-045ce6a976ba&k=54562. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 

External links

• WFCU Centre official website
• City of Windsor WFCU Centre information page
• Eastside Arena web site, operated by arena building consortium
• Windsor Spitfires, WFCU Centre Ontario Hockey League tenant
• Photo gallery from the WFCU Centre's interior