Cleveland Arena
 | |
| Location | 3717 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio, 44115 United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°30′14″N 81°39′40″W / 41.50389°N 81.66111°W |
| Capacity | 11,000 (basketball) 9,900 (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1937 |
| Closed | 1974 |
| Demolished | 1977 |
| Construction cost | $1.5 million ($31.8 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Tenants | |
| Cleveland Barons (AHL) (1937–1973) Cleveland Rebels (BAA) (1946–1947) Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) (1970–1974) Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) (1972–1974) | |
Cleveland Arena was an arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It was built and privately financed by local businessman Albert C. Sutphin during the height of the Great Depression in 1937 as a playing site for Sutphin's AHL team, the Cleveland Barons. The arena was at 3717 Euclid Avenue, and seated 9,900 in the stands and 12,500+ for events such as boxing where floor seating was available.[2]
In addition to the Barons, the arena was home to the Cleveland Rebels of the Basketball Association of America, also owned by Sutphin, for the 1946–47 season, and hosted several games for the Cincinnati Royals of the National Basketball Association (NBA), who played more than 35 of their home games there from 1966–1970.[3] The arena and the Barons were purchased by Nick Mileti in 1968. In 1970, the expansion Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA moved into the arena and played there for their first four seasons, from 1970–1974. The Cleveland Crusaders of the new World Hockey Association began play in 1972, hosting games there until 1974.[4]
Cleveland Arena was also a regular concert and boxing venue. On March 21, 1952 it was the site of the Moondog Coronation Ball, considered the first rock and roll concert, organized by Alan Freed. The concert was shut down after the first song by fire authorities due to overcrowding. It was estimated 20,000 people were in the arena or trying to enter it, when the capacity was roughly half that.
While the arena was a showpiece when it opened, by the time it closed in 1974 it had become decrepit and lacked adequate parking. It was replaced for sports and entertainment use by the Richfield Coliseum that year and demolished in 1977.[2] The headquarters of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross now occupies the site.
References
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b George Condon (1995). "Chapter 7, Sutphin's Surprise". The Man in the Arena: The Life and Times of A.C. Sutphin. The A.C. Sutphin Foundation. pp. 51–67. ISBN 0-9649900-1-6.
- ^ "1966–67 Cincinnati Royals Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.com. 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "Cleveland Arena". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. March 27, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
External links
- Cleveland Arena (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History)
- Arenas by Munsey & Suppes
- Sports venues demolished in 1977
- Sports venues in Cleveland
- History of Cleveland
- Defunct basketball venues in the United States
- Defunct indoor arenas in the United States
- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Basketball venues in Ohio
- Cleveland Barons (1937–73)
- Cleveland Rebels
- Cleveland Cavaliers venues
- World Hockey Association venues
- Basketball Association of America venues
- Sports venues completed in 1937
- Music venues in Cleveland
- Defunct sports venues in Ohio
- Demolished music venues in the United States
- 1937 establishments in Ohio
- 1977 disestablishments in Ohio