Erie Insurance Arena
| Erie Insurance Arena | |
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| Former names | Louis J. Tullio Arena (1983–2012) |
| Location | 809 French Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16501 |
| Coordinates | 42°7′41″N 80°4′51″W / 42.12806°N 80.08083°WCoordinates: 42°7′41″N 80°4′51″W / 42.12806°N 80.08083°W |
| Broke ground | September 1981 |
| Opened | June 7, 1983[1] |
| Renovated | 2012-2013 |
| Owner | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Operator | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Construction cost | $9.3 million[1] |
| Architect | Heidt, Evans & Salata |
| Capacity | 6,500 (Hockey) 6,562 (Indoor football) 6,750 (Basketball) 9,000 (Concert) |
| Tenants | |
| Erie Panthers (ECHL) (1988–1996) Erie Wave (WBL) (1990-1992) Erie Otters (OHL) (1996–present) Erie Freeze (AIFA) (2005–2007) Erie Explosion (CIFL) (2008–present) Erie BayHawks (D-League) (2008–present) Women's Frozen Four (NCAA) (2011) |
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Erie Insurance Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the downtown area of Erie, Pennsylvania. It is home to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, and the Erie Explosion of the Continental Indoor Football League. It was built in 1983 as part of the Louis J. Tullio Plaza, which also includes the Warner Theatre and Jerry Uht Park - all of which are administered by the Erie County Convention Center Authority. The arena is named for the Erie Insurance Group, which purchased the naming rights in May 2012.
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[edit] History
Erie Insurance Arena, formerly called Louis J. Tullio Arena, was built for $9.3 million in 1983. It opened in June 1983 with a Beach Boys concert.[2] Since then, it has hosted the likes of Elton John, Rod Stewart, Cher, KISS, Barry Manilow, and Alan Jackson. Erie Insurance Arena has also featured Disney on Ice, World Wrestling Entertainment, Impact Wrestling, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.[3]
In May 2012, the Erie County Convention Center Authority and the Erie Insurance Group announced a 10-year, $3 million dollar naming agreement that will rename the former Louis J. Tullio Arena, "Erie Insurance Arena." This renaming coincides with the completion of the current $42-million dollar renovation project that is currently underway and is expected to be completed in summer 2013.[4] The renovation, designed by Friday/Sink Combs Dethlefs Joint Venture Architects, will modernize Erie Insurance Arena and will add some new sections and a landscaped park entrance. Construction on the project is being carried by the Pittsburgh-based Turner Construction Company. Improvements to Erie Insurance Arena include additional seating and concourses. To accommodate these new additions, its footprint will expand from the original 152,000-square-foot (14,100 m2) to 218,000-square-foot (20,300 m2). This will increase the venue's capacity to 6,500 for hockey, 6,750 for basketball and about 9,000 for concerts. When the renovations are completed in fall 2013, Erie Insurance Arena will have enlarged lobbies and more box offices, luxury suites, administrative offices, mechanical rooms, training areas, new locker rooms, and a team store. Funding for Erie Insurance Arena's renovations derived from $32 million pledged by former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell combined with $10 million paid by Erie County.[2]
[edit] 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four
Louis J. Tullio Arena, in conjunction with Mercyhurst College, hosted the 2011 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament, in which Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Boston University Terriers by a score of 4-1. [5]
[edit] Arena attractions
Erie Insurance Arena offers conventional food and beverage offerings such as pizza and corn dogs, as well as some more unique items to include Greek hot dogs, Greek nachos, and pepperoni balls. The venue offers a separate menu for the floor seats, in which shrimp cocktails, spinach artichoke dips, steak burgers on a pretzel bun, chicken bacon sandwich, Philadelphia cheesesteak, and a cheese and veggie platter. It also features wine, beer, and mixed cocktail drinks.[6]
[edit] Gallery
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Flowers, Kevin (June 15, 2008). "Millions have flocked to major downtown venue since June 1983". Erie Times-News. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
- ^ a b "Louis J. Tullion Arena to undergo $42 million renovation & expansion". October 16, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Unknown parameter
|source=ignored (help) - ^ "Louis J. Tullion Arena to undergo $42 million renovation & expansion". Erie Times-News. October 16, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
- ^ Flowers, Kevin (May 10, 2012). "Tullio Arena to become Erie Insurance Arena". Erie Times-News. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ http://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-women/2011-03-12/boston-first-ever-frozen-four
- ^ Guiher, Joshua (2012). "Tullio Arena Reviews, Erie BayHawks". Stadium Journey.com. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
[edit] External links
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- Indoor arenas in the United States
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Sports venues in Pennsylvania
- Arena football venues
- Ontario Hockey League arenas
- NBA Development League arenas
- Erie BayHawks
- Sports in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Buildings and structures in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Visitor attractions in Erie, Pennsylvania
