Slush Puppie Place
{{Short description|Indoor arena in downtown Kingston, Ontario}}
{{confused|Slush Puppie Centre}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Slush Puppie Place
| nickname = "Kingston Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre"
| image = SlushPuppiePlace Ext 2025.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| pushpin_map = Ontario#Canada
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ontario##Location within Canada
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_label = Slush Puppie Place
| former_names = K-Rock Centre (2008-2013)
Rogers K-Rock Centre (2013-2018)
Leon's Centre (2018-2024)
| location = 1 The Tragically Hip Way
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| coordinates = {{coord|44.2334|N|76.4797|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = July 28, 2006
| opened = February 22, 2008
| owner = City of Kingston
| operator = ASM Global
| surface = Multi-surface
| construction_cost = Canadian dollar46.5 million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|CA|46500000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation-year|CA}} dollars{{inflation-fn|CA}})
| architect = Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects (BBB Architects)
| structural engineer = Halcrow Yolles
| services engineer = The Mitchell Partnership Inc.
| project_manager = PMX, Inc.
| general_contractor = EllisDon
| tenants = Kingston Frontenacs, 2008–present
| seating_capacity = Ice hockey: 5,000
Concerts: 6,700
| dimensions = 200' X 85'
}}
Slush Puppie Place (formerly Leon's Centre) is a 5,000-seat indoor arena in downtown Kingston, Ontario.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-14 |title=About The Venue - Slush Puppie Place - Kingston, ON |url=https://www.slushpuppieplace.com/venue-history/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.slushpuppieplace.com |language=en-US}} Opened in 2008 as the K-Rock Centre, it is the home of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
History
{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Kingston Sports and Entertainment Centre construction photo.jpg
| width1 = 200
| caption1 = Construction of Slush Puppie Place, then known as Kingston Sports and Entertainment Centre; January 2008
| image2 = K-Rock Centre.JPG
| width2 = 200
| caption2 = Exterior of Slush Puppie Place in February 2010, then K-Rock Centre
| image3 = 2021-07 Leons Centre.jpg
| width3 = 200
| caption3 = Exterior of Slush Puppie Place in July 2021, then Leon's Centre
}}
The arena was designed by Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects,{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/arenas/krock-centre/about/|title=About The Sports & Entertainment Centre|accessdate=February 18, 2008|publisher=City of Kingston|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120729234415/http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/arenas/krock-centre/about/|archivedate=July 29, 2012}} and was constructed by EllisDon Construction. It was built on city-owned land known as the "North Block", which at the time was being used as a parking lot. An archaeological dig of the area was necessary since the southeast portion of the site was the former location of part of the historic Fort Frontenac. The remaining ruins of the fort's northwest bastion is located directly across the street from the main entrance.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place July 28, 2006,{{cite web|url=http://www.kingstonfrontenacs.com/news/2006-07-28.html|title=City throws off shackles to build sports/rec centre|accessdate=February 18, 2008|last=Rees Lambert|first=Lynn|date=July 28, 2006|newspaper=Kingston This Week|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928230045/http://www.kingstonfrontenacs.com/news/2006-07-28.html|archivedate=September 28, 2007}} with construction beginning on November 3, 2006. On February 6, 2008, local radio station CIKR-FM purchased the naming rights to the arena for 10 years in a $3.3 million agreement, naming it the K-Rock Centre.{{cite news |last=Press |first=Jordan |date=February 6, 2000 |title=K-Rock sings winning tune; Radio station awarded naming rights for new sports and entertainment centre |url=http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=890757&auth=Jordan+Press+Whig-Standard+City+Hall+Reporter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807083542/http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=890757&auth=Jordan+Press+Whig-Standard+City+Hall+Reporter&archive=true |archive-date=2011-08-07 |accessdate=February 18, 2008 |newspaper=The Kingston Whig Standard}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
In February 2012, Kingston City Council voted to rename the street on which the arena is located, formerly a part of Barrack Street, to The Tragically Hip Way in honour of Kingston band The Tragically Hip.[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/02/22/kingston_gets_tragically_hip_way.html "Kingston gets Tragically Hip Way"]. Toronto Star, February 22, 2012.
In August 2013, the arena's name was amended to Rogers K-Rock Centre to reflect Rogers Communications' current ownership of CIKR.{{Cite web |last=nurun.com |title=So far so good for arena |url=http://www.thewhig.com/2013/08/23/so-far-so-good-for-rogers-k-rock-centre |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180717022043/http://www.thewhig.com/2013/08/23/so-far-so-good-for-rogers-k-rock-centre |archive-date=2018-07-17 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Kingston Whig-Standard |language=en-CA}} In 2018, the naming rights were sold to Chris McKercher—owner of the local Leon's franchise—renaming the arena to Leon's Centre. The five-year agreement was valued at $257,000 per-year.{{Cite web |title=Leon's Centre name change a work in progress |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4317850/leons-centre-name-change-a-work-in-progress/ |access-date=2020-03-07 |website=Global News |language=en}} In January 2024, J&J Snack Foods acquired the naming rights via its Slush Puppie subsidiary, renaming the arena to Slush Puppie Place. The 15-year agreement is valued at around $2.2 million, and includes branding and concessions placements.{{Cite web |title=Kingston’s Leon Centre to be renamed Slush Puppie Place next month |url=https://obj.ca/kingstons-leon-centre-renamed-slush-puppie-place-next-month/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Ottawa Business Journal |language=en}}
Notable events
= Ice hockey =
The Kingston Frontenacs played their first game at the arena on February 22, 2008, losing 3–2 to their rivals, the Belleville Bulls. Kingston native Don Cherry performed the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game.{{cite web |title=Belleville 3 at Kingston 2 |url=https://chl.ca/ohl/gamecentre/15032/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=Canadian Hockey League}}
Two days later, on February 24, 2008, the Frontenacs earned their first win at the arena, defeating the Peterborough Petes 7–4.{{cite web |title=Peterborough 4 at Kingston 7 |url=https://chl.ca/ohl/gamecentre/15049/ |website=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=28 September 2024}}
{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = Rogers K-Rock Centre - Interior.JPG
| width1 = 200
| caption1 = Slush Puppie Place (then Rogers K-Rock Centre) in its hockey formation, November 2015
| image2 = PANO 20180411 190444.jpg
| width2 = 265
| caption2 = Slush Puppie Place (then Rogers K-Rock Centre) in its basketball formation, April 2018
}}
=Concerts=
The inaugural concert at the arena was performed by Kingston-based The Tragically Hip on February 23, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.rogersk-rockcentre.com/venue-history/|title=Venue History - Rogers K-Rock Centre|website=rogersk-rockcentre.com|accessdate=August 21, 2016}} The arena has since hosted several concerts and entertainment events by artists including Elton John, Avril Lavigne, Neil Young, Cirque du Soleil, Deadmau5, Jerry Seinfeld, Bryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Leonard Cohen, Reba McEntire, Billy Talent, Sting and hometown band, The Glorious Sons among many others.
On August 20, 2016, The Tragically Hip played the final concert of their Man Machine Poem Tour at the arena;{{cite web|last1=Noronha|first1=Charmaine|title=Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip holds final show|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9b61e78db87a4ec989742fa26cbbc379/canadian-rock-band-tragically-hip-holds-final-show|website=The Associated Press|accessdate=21 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/67689-canadian-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-pays-tribute-to-the-tragically-hip-watch|title=Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Pays Tribute to the Tragically Hip|website=pitchfork.com|accessdate=21 August 2016}} the tour was announced after it was made public that lead singer Gord Downie had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tragically-hip-tour-dates-1.3598795|title=Tragically Hip announces tour dates after singer Gord Downie's cancer diagnosis revealed|website=www.cbc.ca|access-date=2016-05-25}} The concert was broadcast nationally by the CBC's radio, television, and digital platforms as the special presentation The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/tragically-hip-cbc-broadcast-ratings-1.3730276|title=Millions watch Tragically Hip live on CBC|website=www.cbc.ca|access-date=2016-08-21}} Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also in attendance.
=Curling=
File:Rachel Homan (CAN).jpg won the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.]]The arena has hosted multiple Curling Canada championships, including the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts,{{cite web |date=19 November 2010 |title=Kingston to host 2013 Scotties |url=http://www.playdowns.com/2010/11/19/kingston-to-host-2013-scotties/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715093241/http://www.playdowns.com/2010/11/19/kingston-to-host-2013-scotties/ |archive-date=15 July 2011}}{{cite web |date=19 November 2010 |title=Kingston to Host the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts |url=http://www.curling.ca/2010/11/19/kingston-to-host-the-2013-scotties-tournament-of-hearts/ |publisher=Canadian Curling Association}} and the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier; its hosting of the latter marked the bicentennial anniversary of Kingston's first organized curling game.{{cite news |last=MacAlpine |first=Ian |date=November 1, 2018 |title=It's official: Brier coming to Kingston in 2020 |url=https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/its-official-brier-coming-to-kingston-in-2020 |accessdate=November 1, 2018 |newspaper=Kingston Whig-Standard}}
=Figure skating=
File:Lubov ILIUSHECHKINA Nodari MAISURADZE Skate Canada 2010.jpg and Nodari Maisuradze at the 2010 Skate Canada International.]]The arena hosted the 2010 Skate Canada International{{cite news |date=29 Apr 2010 |title=Kingston to host 2010 Skate Canada International |url=http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/news_views/press_room/news_releases/2010/apr29-10.cfm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530111201/http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/news_views/press_room/news_releases/2010/apr29-10.cfm |archive-date=30 May 2010 |access-date=30 Apr 2010 |publisher=Skate Canada}} and the 2015 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.{{cite news |date=May 14, 2014 |title=Kingston, Ont. to host 2015 Canadian figure skating championships |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/kingston-ont-to-host-2015-canadian-figure-skating-championships-1.1821226 |work=The Canadian Press |publisher=CTV News}}
Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame
The Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame is located inside Slush Puppie Place. The hall of fame honors any athlete or "builder of sport" (such as a coach) who has contributed meaningfully to sports in Kingston. Athletes must be retired from the sport for which they are nominated for at least three years or be older than 50. Builders are eligible at any time.{{cite web |url=http://www.kdshf.ca/KDSHF_NOMINATION_FORM_Revised_1_May_14.pdf |title=Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame |website=Kdshf.ca |accessdate=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111005416/http://www.kdshf.ca/KDSHF_NOMINATION_FORM_Revised_1_May_14.pdf |archive-date=11 January 2017 |url-status=dead }} The hall officially opened in 1996, and in 2008, it moved into Slush Puppie Place.{{cite web|accessdate=2017-01-10|title=Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://www.kdshf.ca/index.cfm?page=history|website=www.kdshf.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111005413/http://www.kdshf.ca/index.cfm?page=history|archive-date=2017-01-11|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Leon's Centre}}
- [http://www.slushpuppieplace.com Slush Puppie Place website]
- [http://www.kdshf.ca/ Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame]
{{OHL Arenas}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Indoor arenas in Ontario
Category:Ice hockey venues in Ontario
Category:Ontario Hockey League arenas