Washington Avenue Armory facts for kids
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"The Armory"
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| Full name | Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena |
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| Location | 195 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York, United States 12210 |
| Coordinates | 42°39′25″N 73°45′44″W / 42.657081°N 73.762325°W |
| Owner | Albany Basketball & Sports Corporation |
| Capacity | 3,600–4,300 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1890 |
| Opened | 1890 |
| Renovated | 1930s |
| Architect | Isaac Perry |
| Tenants | |
| Albany Patroons (CBA/USBL/TBL) (1982–1990, 2005–2009, 2018–present) New York Buzz (WTT) (2008) Albany Legends (IBL/IBA) (2010–2012) |
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Washington Avenue (Tenth Battalion) Armory
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.6 ha) |
| Built | 1889 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, castellated |
| MPS | Army National Guard Armories in New York State MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000077 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1995 |
The Washington Avenue Armory is a cool building in Albany, New York. It's a big place where people go for sports games and concerts. It can hold up to 4,300 people for shows and 3,600 for sports.
This historic building is also known as the Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena. It is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can find it on the corner of Washington Avenue and Lark Street in downtown Albany.
Contents
The Armory's History
Building the Armory
The Armory was built a long time ago in 1890. It was made for a group called the New York National Guard. A famous architect named Isaac Perry designed this impressive building.
A Home for Sports
For many years, the Armory was a popular spot for basketball. Many college and minor league teams played here. This was because there wasn't another good place for basketball in Albany. The Armory also hosted exciting boxing matches.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Armory was home to WWF wrestling events. These Friday night shows were always completely sold out!
NBA Games in Albany
In 1956, the Armory even hosted two professional NBA basketball games. The Fort Wayne Pistons played the Syracuse Nationals. Later, the Minneapolis Lakers played the Rochester Royals. Not many fans came to these games, though.
The Albany Patroons
From 1982 to 1990, the Armory was the home court for the Albany Patroons. They were a team in the Continental Basketball Association. After the Patroons moved to a new arena, the Armory wasn't used much. People had many ideas for what to do with the old building.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its importance, the Armory was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 2, 1995. This means it's a special building worth protecting.
A New Beginning
In 2004, a company called Albany Basketball & Sports Corporation bought the Armory. They fixed it up, and it reopened in September 2005. The Patroons basketball team even came back to play there!
The Armory also became home to other teams. These included the New York Buzz tennis team in 2008.
A Roof Repair
On December 15, 2007, a concert had to be canceled. The roof of the Armory started to cave in. Luckily, it was fixed, and the building is still in use today.
What's Inside the Armory?
The Armory has a huge floor space, about 38,000 square feet! It also has special rooms for meetings. There are even two big video screens.
The Armory's website mentioned plans for an underground mall. This mall would have stores and places to eat.
Who Manages the Armory?
Michael Corts is the general manager of the Armory. He helps make sure everything runs smoothly.
See also
