Hara Arena facts for kids
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Trotwood Dome
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| Location | 1001 Shiloh Springs Road Trotwood, Ohio 45415 |
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| Coordinates | 39°49′16″N 84°15′22″W / 39.82111°N 84.25611°W |
| Capacity | 5,500 permanent seats 1,500 additional festival seats |
| Field size | Ice surface: 195 x 84 ft (59 x 26 m) |
| Surface | Concrete/Ice |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Closed | August 27, 2016 |
| Tenants | |
| Dayton Gems (IHL) (1964–1977, 1979–1980) Dayton Owls (IHL) (1977) Dayton Jets (CnHL/AAHL) (1985–1987) Dayton Dynamo (AISA) (1988–1990) Dayton Bombers (ECHL) (1991–1996) Dayton Ice Bandits (CoHL) (1996–1997) Dayton Sky Hawks (IFL) (1999–2000) Dayton Jets (IBL) (2005) The Marshals (NIFL) (2007) Dayton Gems (IHL/CHL) (2009–2012) Dayton Silverbacks (CIFL) (2011–2012) Dayton Demonz (FHL) (2012–2015) Gem City Rollergirls (WFTDA) (2012–2014) Dayton Sharks (CIFL) (2013–2014) Dayton Demolition (FHL) (2015–2016) |
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Hara Arena was a large building in Trotwood, Ohio, near Dayton, Ohio. It was a place where many different events happened. The arena had 5,500 permanent seats and could hold even more people for special events. It started as a ballroom in 1956 and grew into a complex with six buildings. Hara Arena closed its doors in August 2016.
Over the years, Hara Arena was home to many sports teams. These included the Dayton Jets basketball team and several ice hockey teams. Some of the hockey teams were the Dayton Gems, Dayton Bombers, and Dayton Demonz. It also hosted the Marshals indoor football team.
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History of Hara Arena
The land where Hara Arena stood was once a fruit orchard owned by Harold and Ralph Wampler. The name "Hara" comes from the first two letters of their names: HA from Harold and RA from Ralph. In 1956, the Wampler Ballroom was built. The main arena opened in 1964. The Wampler brothers were part of a group called the Shriners. They built the arena because they needed a good place to hold the Shrine Circus.
At first, they didn't plan to have an ice rink. But they changed their minds to make a home for the Dayton Gems hockey team. By 2016, the complex was very large, covering about 165,000 square feet. It included the main arena, four exhibition halls, a conference center, a pub, and a golf course. Hara Arena often used the slogan "Nowhere Else But Hara" in its advertisements.
Why Hara Arena Closed
On July 29, 2016, it was announced that Hara Arena would close. Its last event was on August 27, 2016. The closure happened because of ongoing financial issues. At the time, the arena was very important to the local economy, bringing in about $36 million each year.
The closure meant that many events, like the yearly Dayton Hamvention, had to find new places. The Dayton Demolition ice hockey team also had to stop playing. Before it closed, people noticed that the parking lot had many potholes. The arena had not been significantly updated since 1975.
What Happened After Closure
After Hara Arena closed, the property was empty for a long time. People sometimes entered the building without permission. In December 2017, a bank took over the property because money was owed to them. Many people had ideas for what to do with the property. However, anyone who wanted to buy it needed a clear plan for the large amount of unpaid taxes and the different parts of the land.
In April 2018, a video showed that the arena was in bad shape and falling apart. The city of Trotwood tried to secure the property, but it was difficult.
New Owner and Tornado Damage
On May 2, 2018, a developer named Michael Heitz bought the property. His first goal was to clean up the site and make it secure. He was known for buying other properties in the area that needed work and getting them ready for new uses.
On the night of May 27–28, 2019, strong tornadoes hit the area. Hara Arena was badly damaged. Parts of the roof and sides of the building were blown off. Michael Heitz was hopeful that the building could still be saved. He noted that the main arena looked mostly fine. He also said that he had received a grant to study the site. This could help sell the building to a new buyer, which would bring new jobs to the area.
In October 2019, it was reported that the building could not be saved because of the tornado damage. The owners planned to change the land's zoning to attract new businesses. This would help with cleaning up and redeveloping the site.
In March 2020, it was announced that the property's zoning had changed. Demolition was likely to start soon. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. In May 2020, Heitz said a large company was interested in the land. This company could bring at least 50 new jobs to the area. In September 2020, Trotwood officially announced plans to demolish the arena.
In November 2020, it was announced that parts of the arena's famous sign and bricks would be sold for charity. Heitz had hoped to save the seats from the building, but they were damaged by mold after the tornado.
Championship Teams at Hara
Hara Arena was home to several championship-winning teams:
- 1968–69 Dayton Gems
- 1969–70 Dayton Gems
- 1975–76 Dayton Gems
- 2013–14 Dayton Demonz
Professional Wrestling Events
Hara Arena was known as a "legendary" place for professional wrestling. In the 1960s and 1970s, it hosted "Original" Big Time Wrestling shows. Famous wrestlers like The Sheik, Bobo Brazil, and André the Giant performed there. The Sheik held his first event at Hara Arena in 1965.
The arena also hosted events for major wrestling companies:
- Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1983 and 1984
- WWF Superstars of Wrestling TV taping in March 1987
- WWF Wrestling Challenge taping in August 1988
- Pay-Per-View events like the 1995 WCW Great American Bash, WCW/NWO Souled Out (1998), and ECW Heatwave 1998 and ECW Heatwave 1999.
Other Notable Events
Hara Arena was a popular place for many different events. It hosted concerts, music festivals, trade shows, and conventions.
Famous Concerts and Shows
Over its 60-year history, Hara Arena hosted many musical performances. Bands like the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead played there. The Rolling Stones even played one of their first U.S. shows at Hara Arena, with only 648 people attending. The heavy metal band Pantera played at the arena many times between 1990 and 2001. They were even named the "house band" of the venue in 1998.
The arena also hosted popular touring shows for families. These included Disney on Ice and Sesame Street on Ice.
Sports History
Hara Arena holds a special place in hockey history. It's where Wayne Gretzky played his first professional hockey game. This was a pre-season game between the Indianapolis Racers and the Cincinnati Stingers on September 27, 1978.
Conventions and Trade Shows
The annual Dayton Hamvention was a very popular event held at Hara Arena for many years. This convention for amateur radio enthusiasts brought in more than 25,000 visitors in its final year at Hara in 2016. Starting in 2017, the Hamvention moved to the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. The Miami Valley Home Improvement Show was also held there every year.
Karen Wampler, who worked at the arena, remembered a visit from the Ringling Bros. Circus as a very special event. It was the last stop on their tour.
| Events and Tenants | ||
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| Preceded by None |
Home of the Dayton Bombers 1991 – 1996 |
Succeeded by Ervin J. Nutter Center |
| Preceded by None None None |
Home of the Dayton Gems 1964 – 1977 1979 – 1980 2009 – 2012 |
Succeeded by None None None |
| Preceded by Biltmore Hotel |
Host of the Dayton Hamvention 1964 – 2016 |
Succeeded by Greene County Fairgrounds |
