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Coordinates: 52°11′20″N 106°40′44″W / 52.189°N 106.679°W / 52.189; -106.679
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| acreage =
| acreage =
| volume =
| volume =
| tenants = [[Saskatoon Blades]] ([[Western Hockey League|WHL]]) (1988–present)<br>[[Saskatchewan Rush]] ([[National Lacrosse League|NLL]]) (2016–present)<br>[[Saskatchewan Rattlers]] ([[Canadian Elite Basketball League|CEBL]]) (2019)<br>[[Saskatchewan Storm]] ([[World Basketball League|WBL]]) (1990–1992)<br>[[Saskatoon Slam]] ([[National Basketball League (Canada)|NBL]]) (1993–1994)<br>[[Saskatchewan Hawks]] ([[International Basketball Association|IBA]]/[[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]) (1999–2001)<br>[[Saskatoon Accelerators]] ([[Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League|CMISL]]) (2007–2009)<br>[[Saskatoon Sirens]] ([[Legends Football League|LFL Canada]]) (2012)
| tenants = [[Saskatoon Blades]] ([[Western Hockey League|WHL]]) (1988–present)<br>[[Saskatchewan Rush]] ([[National Lacrosse League|NLL]]) (2016–present)<br>[[Saskatchewan Rattlers]] ([[Canadian Elite Basketball League|CEBL]]) (2019-present)<br>[[Saskatchewan Storm]] ([[World Basketball League|WBL]]) (1990–1992)<br>[[Saskatoon Slam]] ([[National Basketball League (Canada)|NBL]]) (1993–1994)<br>[[Saskatchewan Hawks]] ([[International Basketball Association|IBA]]/[[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]) (1999–2001)<br>[[Saskatoon Accelerators]] ([[Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League|CMISL]]) (2007–2009)<br>[[Saskatoon Sirens]] ([[Legends Football League|LFL Canada]]) (2012)
| embedded =
| embedded =
| website = {{URL|http://www.sasktelcentre.com}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.sasktelcentre.com}}

Revision as of 10:16, 25 August 2019

SaskTel Centre
Map
Former namesSaskatchewan Place (1988–2004)
Credit Union Centre (2004–2014)
Address3315 Thatcher Avenue
LocationSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
Coordinates52°11′20″N 106°40′44″W / 52.189°N 106.679°W / 52.189; -106.679
OwnerCity of Saskatoon
Executive suites51
Capacity15,100[5]
Lacrosse: 15,195[6]
Record attendance16,874 Metallica WorldWired Tour, September 15, 2018
SurfaceIce, Turf
Construction
Broke ground11 September 1986 (1986-09-11)[1]
Opened9 February 1988 (1988-02-09)
Expanded1990, 2009
Construction costC$24.8 million
($59.4 million in 2023 dollars[2])

$6.7 million (2009 expansion)[3]
($9.22 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectThomas Ferguson Architect, Ltd[4]
PBK Architects, Inc.[4]
Structural engineerCochrane Lavalin Consulting Engineers[4]
General contractorCarlson Constructors, Ltd.
Tenants
Saskatoon Blades (WHL) (1988–present)
Saskatchewan Rush (NLL) (2016–present)
Saskatchewan Rattlers (CEBL) (2019-present)
Saskatchewan Storm (WBL) (1990–1992)
Saskatoon Slam (NBL) (1993–1994)
Saskatchewan Hawks (IBA/CBA) (1999–2001)
Saskatoon Accelerators (CMISL) (2007–2009)
Saskatoon Sirens (LFL Canada) (2012)
Website
www.sasktelcentre.com

SaskTel Centre (formerly Credit Union Centre, and originally Saskatchewan Place; informally also known as Sask Place)[7][8] is an arena located in the Agriplace Industrial Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Situated near the city's northern entrance, the facility opened in February 1988 with a seating capacity of around 7,800.[9] It was expanded to 11,330 for the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1990.[10] More additional permanent seating was added in 2008 and 2009. The current capacity is now 15,190 for hockey.[11]

It is the home venue of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League and the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League, with the arena being referred to as Co-op Field at SaskTel Centre during Rush games as per a separate sponsorship with Saskatoon Co-op.[12]

The ashes of Saskatoon-born Detroit Red Wings player Gordie Howe, as well as those of his wife Colleen Howe, are buried at the base of a statue of Howe outside SaskTel Centre's main entrance.

In 2018 talks began to replace SaskTel Centre.

History

The interior of SaskTel Centre prior to a Saskatchewan Rush game.

SaskPlace was constructed as a replacement for the Saskatoon Arena, a concrete building constructed in Saskatoon's downtown core in the 1930s, and which was in use until 1988, hosting its final hockey game only a week before SaskPlace opened. Nicknamed "The Barn", the facility had outlived its usefulness some 20 years earlier and had become infamous for leaky roofs and substandard amenities, yet Saskatonians were hesitant to lose the landmark and a number of years passed between the 1970s proposal to replace the structure and the eventual demolition of the Arena and the opening of SaskPlace.

In 1982, Bill Hunter, a local sports promoter, attempted to purchase the St. Louis Blues NHL team and bring it to Saskatoon. Part of his plan included building an 18,000-seat arena. Two locations were suggested: the site of a decommissioned power plant downtown, just west of the then-present Saskatoon Arena, and another site east of the city's airport in the North Industrial area. Despite Hunter's best efforts, the NHL rejected his offer and Hunter's plans to relocate an NHL team and build a new arena collapsed.

The site eventually chosen for the arena was initially, and still is, unpopular with some Saskatoon residents. Situated in the remote Agri Place industrial park at the north end of the city, accessible only via highways 11 and 16 and Marquis Drive, SaskPlace was accused of being too inconvenient for seniors and people of limited transportation to access, as opposed to the original downtown arena site which was close to most bus routes. The city's original plan was to relocate Saskatoon's exhibition grounds alongside SaskPlace as well, but this proposal was defeated in a civic plebiscite following public protest over access and safety concerns. At the time of construction, there were very few businesses and services located in the immediate area. As of 2016, the surrounding area has expanded, but the lack of fan amenities that most would find in other cities, such as nearby bars and restaurants, remains. A Motel 6 was the first hotel to be built near the arena, in 2004. A second hotel was constructed in the early 2010s.

Plans to build interchanges on the two major access routes into the facility were announced soon after the arena opened. However, these plans never developed, with the city and province instead opting to install a set of traffic lights at Marquis Drive and Highway 16 only 27 years after the arena's opening. Near-sighted planning on behalf of the city at the time of construction has led to traffic severely backing up after large-scale events in recent years.

In the early 2000s, Saunders Avenue, a street leading into the parking lot of Credit Union Centre, was renamed Bill Hunter Avenue in honour of Bill Hunter, who died in 2002. This was considered ironic by many Saskatonians, given Hunter lobbied for the facility to be built in another location near the old Saskatoon Arena. The city then transferred the 'Saunders' name to a new street in the River Landing redevelopment area—running through the former site of the Saskatoon Arena.

Expansion

In 2008–2009, the arena was renovated for the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[11] There were 2,981 seats added to the upper deck at the west end of the arena increasing the capacity of the arena to more than 15,000. The cost of the expansion was pegged at $6.7 million. $2 million was requested as a loan from the city of Saskatoon and $3 million from a provincial grant. Hockey Canada may have also contributed about $500,000. The expansion also includes extra washrooms and concessions.[13] The expansion also included the addition of 14 more corporate box seats, bringing the total to 44 and enlarged and improved player facilities such as dressing rooms, weight rooms, coach`s room, equipment room, player`s lounge and medical room.[5]

At about this time, there was a proposal from Ice Edge Holdings to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes and begin playing five of the Coyotes' home games each season at Credit Union Centre beginning in December 2009. The logic behind the move, which parallels the Bills Toronto Series in the NFL, was that although Saskatoon was likely too small to support an NHL team of its own, it would easily be able to sell out the Credit Union Centre for one game each month.[14] By May 2011, Ice Edge Holdings had abandoned its plan to purchase the team.[15] Although some members of the Ice Edge group subsequently joined IceArizona, the group that ultimately was successful in purchasing the team, IceArizona did not pursue the earlier proposal to play any home games outside Arizona.

The arena hosted an NHL exhibition game in 2011 when the Edmonton Oilers hosted one of their games there. In 2012, the Winnipeg Jets were scheduled to play an exhibition game, but this was cancelled due to the NHL lockout. They made up for the missed date on September 27, 2013 vs the Boston Bruins. The Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames played on September 16, 2013.

In August 2014, SaskTel acquired the naming rights to the arena, renaming it SaskTel Centre.[16][17]

Major events

SaskTel Centre lit in green for the Saskatchewan Rush NLL lacrosse team.

The arena's inaugural event was the Saskatoon Blades' first WHL game at the arena, defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings 4–3. Grant Tkachuk scored the first goal in the arena's history.[18]

The Saskatoon Blades have hosted the Memorial Cup twice at SaskTel Centre, first in 1989 (where they lost in the Final to the Swift Current Broncos), and again in 2013. As of 2016, they remain the Blades' only two appearances in the Memorial Cup.

On October 12, 1992, Canadian wrestling legend Bret Hart defeated Ric Flair to capture his first WWF Championship. Bret's father, legendary Hart family patriarch Stu, was born and raised in Saskatoon.

In 2005, the facility hosted a gala command performance concert for Queen Elizabeth in honour of Saskatchewan's centennial and in 2007 it was the venue for the 2007 Juno Awards.

From June 9–12, 2016, SaskTel Centre hosted six sold-out performances by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood as part of their World Tour. The series of concerts broke the ticket sales record for the province of Saskatchewan, with 94,655 tickets sold. The previous record of 80,127 tickets sold was held by The Rolling Stones when they played two sold-out shows at Mosaic Stadium in Regina in 2006.

In February 2019, it was announced that SaskTel Centre would host the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in 2021, ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics.[19] Also that month, it was announced that the Juno Awards would return to the arena in 2020.[20]

Attendance records

  • The current attendance record for SaskTel Centre is 16,874, which was set on September 15, 2018 for a concert by Metallica.[21]
  • The largest crowd for a hockey game at the arena, was 15,171, set on December 31, 2009 for a round robin game of the 2010 World Juniors between Canada and the United States. It was tied on January 5, 2010 for the final of the 2010 World Juniors between Canada and the United States.
  • The largest crowd for a Saskatoon Blades game, was 12,588, set on February 9, 2013 in a game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
  • The largest crowd for a Saskatchewan Rush game, was 15,192[22] set on May 21, 2016 in a game against the Calgary Roughnecks.

Tenants

Team League Years Notes
Saskatchewan Storm World Basketball League 1990–92 Folded during 1992 season.
Saskatchewan Hawks International Basketball Association, Continental Basketball Association 1999–2001 Folded during the 2001 off-season
Saskatchewan SWAT Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League 2007 Split its games between Credit Union Centre and Kinsmen Arena.
Saskatoon Accelerators Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League 2007–09 Moved to Henk Ruys Soccer Centre for 2010 season.
Saskatoon Blades Western Hockey League 1988–
Saskatoon Sirens LFL Canada 2012–
Saskatoon Slam National Basketball League 1993–94 Folded during 1994 season
University of Saskatchewan Huskies Canadian Interuniversity Sport 1995– Held Chill Out Tournament at Saskatchewan Place (1995–97) and various regular season games.
Saskatchewan Rush NLL 2015– Won NLL Champion's Cup at SaskTel Centre June 4, 2016. (Second as the Edmonton/Saskatchewan Rush) First franchise in sports history to relocate after winning a championship in the previous city (Edmonton in 2015).
Saskatchewan Rattlers Canadian Elite Basketball League 2019–

Major tournaments and events hosted

Tournament/Event Sport/Event Year(s) Notes
The Brier Curling 1989; 2000; 2004; 2012 Alberta won the tournament in 1989, British Columbia won the tournament in 2000, Nova Scotia won the tournament in 2004 and Ontario won the tournament in 2012.
CHL Memorial Cup Hockey 1989, 2013 Swift Current Broncos won the tournament in 1989 and Halifax Mooseheads won the tournament in 2013.
IIHF World Under-20 Championship Hockey 1990–91; 2009–10 Canada won gold at the tournament in 1991 and the United States won gold in 2010.
Scott Tournament of Hearts Curling 1991 British Columbia won the tournament.
Canada Cup Hockey 1991 Was one of several host facilities for the tournament.
CHL Top Prospects Game Hockey 1992, 2002 Team West won 5–4 in 1992, Team Tiger won 7–4 in 2002.
CIS University Cup Hockey 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013, 2014 New Brunswick won the tournament in 1998 and 2013 and Alberta won the tournament in 1999, 2000 and 2014.
FIVB Women's Junior Volleyball World Championship Women's Volleyball 1999 Russia won the tournament.
Juno Awards Music awards 2007
Canada/Russia Super Series Hockey 2007 Game 6 of the series held at Credit Union Centre.
Masters of Curling – Grand Slam of Curling Curling 2008 Glenn Howard's rink won the tournament.
Warped Tour Music festival 2008

Gordie Howe Memorial

A bronze statue of former Detroit Red Wings player and Saskatoon native Gordie Howe has been located outside the arena since 2005. The statue was created by Michael Martin but remained in Eston, Saskatchewan until 1993, when private donations were used to fund its completion. As city property, Saskatoon's city council rejected a proposal to place the statue outside the arena, as they felt it had no artistic value or "enduring quality." The statue, however, would be purchased by the owners of Midtown Plaza, and installed on a street corner near the mall. The placement was criticized by a Saskatoon Star-Phoenix columnist, who felt (as per a survey the paper conducted, and an opinion from Howe himself) that the arena would be a more appropriate location for the statue. In 2005, the Gordie Howe statue was moved outside the arena's main entrance.[23]

Following Howe's death in June 2016, the statue transformed into a memorial site for the player. In September 2016, the cremated ashes of both him and his wife Colleen Howe were both buried at the base of the statue.[24]

References

  1. ^ Kenney, John (11 September 1986). "Ground Breaking Ceremony for the New Arena in Saskatoon". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  3. ^ "SASKATOON CREDIT UNION CENTRE RECEIVES $3 MILLION" (Press release). Regina, Saskatchewan: Government of Saskatchewan. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Yanko, Dave (21 December 1985). "B.C. firm may get piece of arena action". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. p. A1. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Technical Information". Credit Union Centre. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "2018–2019 NLL Media Guide" (PDF). National Lacrosse League.
  7. ^ Menz, Kevin (31 July 2013). "Arena naming rights up for grabs". The StarPhoenix. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Credit Union Centre to be re-named SaskTel Centre". CBC News. 2014-08-22. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  9. ^ "History". Credit Union Centre. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  10. ^ "About Us". Credit Union Centre. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Renovations". Credit Union Centre. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  12. ^ "Introducing Co-Op Field at SaskTel Centre". Saskatchewan Rush. 2017-09-28. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  13. ^ Nickel, Rod (September 3, 2008). "CUC Adds 3,000 Seats Council Gives Preliminary Nod to Howe Bowl, Arena Expansion". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon. pp. A1Template:Inconsistent citations{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  14. ^ "Bidder has ice booked in Saskatoon". Faceoff.com. September 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Francis, Eric (May 7, 2011). "NHL Exec Says Officials Won't Stand for Diving". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  16. ^ "Credit Union Centre to be re-named SaskTel Centre". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  17. ^ "Credit Union Centre becoming SaskTel Centre". Global News. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ February 23 (2019-02-23). "Curling fans rejoice! Olympic trials coming to Saskatoon in 2021". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Retrieved 2019-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Junos running back to Saskatoon in 2020". globalnews.ca. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  21. ^ David Giles (2018-09-17). "Metallica sets SaskTel Centre attendance record, makes Saskatoon Food Bank donation". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  22. ^ [1], http://nll_stats.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=2888351
  23. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (2016-06-18). "The rough 'n tumble tale of Gordie Howe's statue". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  24. ^ "Gordie Howe's ashes laid to rest in Saskatoon". CBC News. 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
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