Oshawa Civic Auditorium
{{Short description|Former indoor arena}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Oshawa Civic Auditorium
| image = Civic Auditorium Oshawa 2006.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| address = 99 Thornton Road South
| location = Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
| coordinates = {{coord|43.887795|-78.890998|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = February 28, 1964
| opened = December 11, 1964
| closed = October 29, 2006
| demolished = April–July 2010
| owner = City of Oshawa
| operator = City of Oshawa
| construction_cost = $1.4 million
| architect =
| tenants = Oshawa Generals (OHL) (1964–2006)
Oshawa Crushmen (OPJHL) (1965–1972)
Oshawa Legionaires (OPJHL) (1972–2006)
Oshawa Green Gaels (OLA) (1965–1996)
| seating_capacity = 3,625 (seated)
4,025 (standing)
}}
The Oshawa Civic Auditorium was an indoor arena in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. It operated from 1964 to 2006, and was primarily used as an ice hockey venue for the Oshawa Generals. The auditorium was built as a replacement to the Hambly Arena, which burned down in 1953.{{cite web|url=http://oshawaexpress.ca/memories-of-the-oshawa-arena/|title=Memories of the Oshawa Arena|last=Weymark|first=Jennifer|date=2016-01-29 |website=oshawaexpress.ca|publisher=The Oshawa Express|access-date=2017-12-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/3457396-walking-down-memory-lane-at-the-oshawa-civic/|title=Walking down memory lane at the Oshawa Civic|last=Pfeiffer|first=Ryan |date=2010-06-22|website=DurhamRegion.com|publisher=Oshawa This Week|access-date=2017-12-18}} The auditorium was part of a larger multi-purpose recreational complex.
Construction
The construction of the auditorium was led by a committee of residents with the slogan: "Let's build it ourselves, for ourselves."{{Citation|last=Brown|first=Babe|last2=Attersley|first2=Bobby|title=A History of the Oshawa Generals|place=Toronto, Ontario|publisher=Chimo|volume=One|year=1978|pages=38–42|language=en|isbn=0-920344-07-0}} Volunteers raised $1.4 million from the community to fund the project, including $476,000 from the local General Motors employees union (Canadian Auto Workers) through payroll reductions. The City of Oshawa provided 20 acres of land on Thornton Road South, previously designated for a cemetery. Groundbreaking for the project took place on February 28, 1964, and the formal opening took place on December 11, 1964.{{cite news|title=Opening of Oshawa's New Civic Auditorium|newspaper=The Oshawa Times|location=Oshawa|pages=1|language=en |date=1964-12-10}} The auditorium capacity was 3,625 seated, and 4,025 including standing room.
History
The Oshawa Generals began play at the auditorium on December 15, 1964, and won 6–4 over the St. Catharines Black Hawks.{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamregion.com/sports-story/5210919-bobby-orr-helped-open-oshawa-civic-auditorium-50-years-ago/|title=Bobby Orr helped open Oshawa Civic Auditorium 50 years ago|date=2014-12-17|publisher=Oshawa This Week|language=en|access-date=2017-12-19|website=DurhamRegion.com|location=Oshawa}} While playing at the auditorium, the Generals won five J. Ross Robertson Cups, and the 1990 Memorial Cup. The Oshawa Generals hosted the 1987 Memorial Cup tournament at the auditorium. The Generals played their final at the auditorium on October 29, 2006, and won 8–6 over the Kingston Frontenacs. The Oshawa Legionaires won three regular season Metro Junior B League titles playing at the auditorium. The Oshawa Green Gaels moved into the auditorium partway through their seven consecutive Minto Cups from 1963 to 1969.
The auditorium hosted the inaugural Wrigley Cup in 1974, a national midget hockey tournament for the top 12 teams in the country set up by Jack Devine and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.{{cite news|title=National Final For 12 Midget Teams|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|date=November 8, 1973|last=MacLaine|first=Ian|page=67|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-08-1973-780529/}}{{free access}} On April 22, 1979, the auditorium hosted two benefit concerts for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind by the Rolling Stones, after Keith Richards was charged with possession of heroin.{{cite web|title=The Stones: A history|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-stones-a-history/article25288247/|last=Caldwell|first=Rebecca|date=2017-03-28|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2018-11-16}} The auditorium became home to the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame on May 21, 1986.{{cite web|url=http://oshawasportshalloffame.com/about-us|title=About Us|website=Oshawa Sports Hall Of Fame|access-date=2017-12-20}} The auditorium became home to the world's longest hockey stick in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2010/02/23/giant_hockey_stick_handlers_go_to_great_lengths.html |title=Giant hockey stick handlers go to great lengths|last=Bock|first=Tony|date=2010-02-23|website=Toronto Star|access-date=2017-12-20}} In May 2006, Alice Cooper was one of the final concerts at the auditorium.
Replacement
In June 2005, construction began on a replacement arena in downtown Oshawa. The General Motors Centre, opened as the city's new primary hockey venue in October 2006. The auditorium sat idle until demolition between April and July 2010. The former site of the auditorium became an indoor turf field.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.oshawa.ca/things-to-do/Facilities.asp City of Oshawa Recreation Complex]
- [http://www.ohlarenaguide.com/oshcivic.htm The OHL Arena & Travel Guide - Oshawa Civic Auditorium]
Category:1964 establishments in Ontario
Category:2006 disestablishments in Ontario
Category:Defunct indoor arenas in Canada
Category:Defunct ice hockey venues in Canada
Category:Defunct sports venues in Canada
Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Ontario
Category:Demolished sports venues
Category:Indoor lacrosse venues in Canada
Category:Ontario Hockey League arenas
Category:Sports venues completed in 1964