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Roy Wilkins Auditorium

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Coordinates: 44°56′41″N 93°05′58″W / 44.944853°N 93.099445°W / 44.944853; -93.099445
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Roy Wilkins Auditorium
A Minnesota Roller Derby game in Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Map
Former namesSt. Paul Auditorium (1932–1985)
Location175 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates44°56′41″N 93°05′58″W / 44.944853°N 93.099445°W / 44.944853; -93.099445
OperatorMinnesota Sports & Entertainment
Capacity5,000
Construction
Built1932
ArchitectClarence W. Wigington
Tenants
Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) (1932–1950)
Minneapolis Lakers (NBA) (1947–1960)
St. Paul Lights (NPBL) (1950)
Minnesota State Boys' High School Hockey Tournament (MSHSL) (1945–1968)
Minnesota Fighting Saints (WHA) (1972)
St. Paul Slam! (IBA) (1996–1998)
Minnesota Roller Derby (WFTDA) (2005–present)
Minnesota Ripknees (ABA) (2007–2008)
Website
www.theroy.org

Roy Wilkins Auditorium is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. Designed by the renowned municipal architect Clarence W. Wigington, it was built in 1932 as an arena extension to the existing St. Paul Auditorium (built 1906–1907). When the old auditorium wing was demolished in 1982, Wigington's arena wing remained. It was renamed for Roy Wilkins in 1985. It is part of the RiverCentre complex,[1] down the hall from the Xcel Energy Center, home of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild.

Events

The University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers ice hockey team used the arena as one of its home rinks from 1932 until 1950. The Minneapolis Lakers used the Auditorium when their regular home, the Minneapolis Auditorium, was not available.[2] The Minnesota State Boys' High School Hockey Tournament was held at the Auditorium from 1945 to 1968. It was home to the Minnesota Fighting Saints ice hockey team of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in fall 1972, before the team moved to the St. Paul Civic Center.[3] The St. Paul Slam of the International Basketball Association played at Wilkins for two seasons, 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Minnesota Ripknees also played at the auditorium for their 2007–08 season.

In 2000 it hosted ECW's pay-per-view Anarchy Rulz.

Since 2005, Roy Wilkins Auditorium has hosted games for the Minnesota Roller Derby league,[4] one of the founding members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The WFTDA held the 2015 WFTDA Championships at Roy Wilkins Auditorium November 6–8, 2015.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "RiverCentre, Xcel Energy Center Score Sustainability Hat Trick". Minnesota Wild. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. ^ Rippel, Joel A.; Hartman, Sid (2003). 75 memorable moments in Minnesota sports. St. Paul, Minn.: Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0873514750. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. ^ Raider, Adam (2014). Frozen in time : a minnesota north stars history. [S.l.]: Univ Of Nebraska Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0803249981. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Tickets & Parking: Minnesota RollerGirls". Minnesota RollerGirls. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. ^ "WFTDA Championships Saint Paul, MN Nov 6–8". WFTDA. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Photos: Jamming for the title of world's best derby team". Minnesota Public Radio. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
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