Erie Insurance Arena facts for kids
  |
|
| Former names | Erie Civic Center (1983–2008) Louis J. Tullio Arena (2008–2012) |
|---|---|
| Address | 809 French Street |
| Location | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 42°7′41″N 80°4′51″W / 42.12806°N 80.08083°W |
| Owner | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Operator | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Capacity | 6,716 (Hockey) 6,562 (Indoor football) 6,982 (Basketball) 9,360 (Concert) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 1981 |
| Opened | June 7, 1983 |
| Renovated | Dec 2011 – Sept 2013 |
| Construction cost | $9.3 million |
| Architect | Heidt, Evans & Salata (original) Sink Combs Dethlefs (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Erie Golden Blades (ACHL) (1983–1987) Erie Panthers (ECHL) (1988–1996) Erie Wave (WBL) (1990–1992) Erie Otters (OHL) (1996–present) Erie Invaders (IFL) (2000) Erie Freeze (AIFL/AIFA) (2005–2007) Erie BayHawks (NBA D-League) (2008–2017) Erie Explosion (SIFL/UIFL/CIFL/PIFL) (2011–2015) Lake Erie Eagles (NCPHL/CPJHL) (2016–2018) Erie BayHawks (NBA G League) (2017–2019) Erie BayHawks (NBA G League) (2019–present) |
|
The Erie Insurance Arena is a big indoor building in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. It's a place where many different events happen. It is the home stadium for two sports teams. These are the Erie Otters hockey team and the Erie BayHawks basketball team.
The arena was built in 1983. It is part of a larger area called the Louis J. Tullio Plaza. This plaza also includes the Warner Theatre and UPMC Park. The Erie County Convention Center Authority manages all these places. The arena got its current name in 2012. This happened because the Erie Insurance Group paid to have the building named after them. This is called buying "naming rights."
Contents
History of the Arena
The Erie Insurance Arena was built in 1983. It cost about $9.3 million to build. The very first event held there was a concert by The Beach Boys in June 1983.
Since then, many famous singers and groups have performed at the arena. Some of these include Elton John, Rod Stewart, Cher, and KISS. Other popular shows have also visited. These include Disney on Ice, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and the Harlem Globetrotters.
Renovations and New Name
In May 2012, the arena got a new name. It was changed from Louis J. Tullio Arena to "Erie Insurance Arena." This change was part of a big agreement. The Erie Insurance Group paid $3 million over 10 years for the naming rights.
This renaming happened at the same time as a major renovation project. The renovation cost $42 million and finished in September 2013. The goal was to make the arena more modern. New sections were added, and the entrance was improved.
The renovation made the arena much bigger. It grew from about 152,000 square feet to 218,000 square feet. This meant more seats for fans. The arena can now hold 6,833 people for hockey games. It can hold 6,754 for basketball and about 9,000 for concerts.
The arena also got bigger lobbies and more ticket windows. New luxury suites were added. These are special private boxes for watching events. There are also new locker rooms and training areas for the teams.
The money for these improvements came from two main sources. Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell promised $32 million. Erie County also paid $10 million.
Sports Events and Upgrades
The arena has hosted many high school and college basketball games. Two very popular games were between rival schools. These were Cathedral Preparatory School and McDowell, and Gannon University and Mercyhurst University. Both games sold out with 5,500 fans. They became the most attended high school and college basketball games in Erie's history.
In September 2014, the arena received another upgrade. This cost $1.4 million. It included a new video system and large high-definition video screens. A new "center ice" video scoreboard was also installed. These new screens replaced older ones from 1983 and 2006.
NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament
In 2011, the arena hosted the 2011 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament. This big college hockey event was held with Mercyhurst College. In the final game, the Wisconsin Badgers won. They beat the Boston University Terriers with a score of 4-1.
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
In 2014, the Erie Insurance Arena also hosted the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament. This event was held with Gannon University. The Bentley Falcons won the championship game. They defeated the West Texas A&M Buffaloes 73–65.
Food and Drinks at the Arena
The Erie Insurance Arena offers many different food and drink options. You can find classic stadium foods like pizza and corn dogs. They also have some local favorites. These include Greek hot dogs, Greek nachos, and pepperoni balls.
For people sitting closer to the action, there's a special menu. This menu might include items like shrimp cocktail or steak burgers. The arena also sells wine, beer, and mixed drinks for adults.
Gallery
-
Louis J. Tullio Arena, 2008
-
Erie Insurance Arena, 2015
