This article is part of our article NHL Arena Ranking SeriesHere we rank all 32 current links and tell you stories about memorable links from the past and present.
Modern NHL arenas may have all sorts of bells and whistles. Sure, it has a larger concourse, more legroom, and plenty of technological advancements. “Barns,” as the buildings that housed hockey were once affectionately called, are a term that no longer applies today.
Still, certain, er, vintage fans cherish the arenas of yesteryear. And while nostalgia is strong, attachment to buildings that lacked modern amenities is rooted in attachment to the unique features that helped people connect with NHL teams through old arenas.
Here’s a look at some of the NHL’s most beloved former arenas and some of the characteristics that set them apart.
small ice cubes in boston garden
Boston Bruins (1928-95)
Designed with boxing matches in mind, Boston’s version of New York’s Madison Square Garden (originally named “Boston Madison Square Garden”) was noted by NHL fans for its small ice surface. The ice surface measures 191 by 83 feet, nine feet shorter and two feet narrower than NHL regulation dimensions. Boston Garden wasn’t the only arena where ice didn’t meet standard measurements. But the Bruins, especially in the 1970s, built a roster that featured players who excelled on short, narrow ice. The Bruins’ size and physicality seemed more noticeable on the reduced rink.
Chicago Stadium fog, organ, and steep stairs
Chicago Blackhawks (1929-94)
My nickname is “Madison’s Madhouse” Chicago Stadium was modeled after Olympia in Detroit. Both arenas were boxy, but Chicago Stadium was notable for its poor ventilation, which could result in fog during Blackhawks games, and the huge Burton organ. Chicago Stadium, like the Boston Garden and Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, had an unregulated ice surface and less neutral zone space. and, steep stairs After the players left the locker room, they had to climb – at least 20 – to reach the ice.
high roof of cow palace
San Jose Sharks (1991-93)
Although the team’s current home is affectionately known as “Shark Tank,” the Sharks began their NHL journey Inside the Cow Palace The Sharks performed badly during their two seasons at the Cow Palace. As such, the Cow Palace primarily existed as an arena where scorers would appear to increase their total points. But anyone who has stepped on the ice at the Cow Palace will remember the building’s sky-high roof, made of steel trusses that rise 110 feet above the building’s floor. Even on TV, the Cow Palace looked like hockey being played in an airplane hangar.
Hartford Civic Center mall entrance
Hartford Whalers (1979-97)
The arena has been home to professional hockey since 1975 with the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association. a collapsed roof In January 1978, the Whalers, who had already moved from Boston’s Matthews Arena, were forced back to the Springfield Civic Center in Massachusetts. (Changing cities is kind of a thing for this nomadic team, known as the Carolina Hurricanes since 1997.) But what stood out about the Hartford Civic Center was its apt nickname: “The Mall.” Part of a larger mixed-use complex, the Hartford Civic Center was centrally located with retail/public spaces and a food court and was part of a connected mall. Fans accessed the arena via a mall. It was also the home of “Brass Bonanza,” perhaps the greatest goal song in NHL history.
Similar to Forum Roman Colosseum
Los Angeles Kings (1967-99)
The late Canadian Jack Kent Cooke brought the NHL to Los Angeles. A groundbreaking facility has opened in the suburbs of Inglewood. Known to Southern Californians as the “Great Forum,” the building was designed to resemble the Colosseum in Rome, and it looked exactly that way from the outside. Once inside, the lack of numerous support beams, combined with the roof suspended by cables approximately 400 feet in diameter, made the Forum feel vast compared to other arenas.
The forum looked great from the outside. (Rick Stewart/All Sports/Getty Images)
bouncy board at joe louis arena
Detroit Red Wings (1979-2017)
The Red Wings will be able to acquire two famous former teams. “The Joe” followed Olympia Stadium and was built in just over two years. (Perhaps the press box was omitted after such a short period of time; legend has it that the architects simply forgot.) The boards were constantly bouncing, making it look like pucks were being thrown around compared to other arenas. It wasn’t until the Red Wings finally gave captain Steve Yzerman a viable roster spot in the mid-1990s that the Joe Louis Arena boards became legendary as home-ice advantage. The Red Wings created chances because their players knew how the puck would fly off the boards.
Maple Leaf Garden penalty box, gondola
Toronto Maple Leafs (1931-99)
Together with the Montreal Forum, the following are being considered: one of the hockey cathedralsMaple Leaf Gardens was the first arena to have penalty boxes for each team. This box was installed in 1963 after a huge fight between Bob Pulford of the Maple Leafs and Terry Harper of the Canadiens. Another famous feature is the gondola, which hung there until 1979, when it was demolished to make room for private boxes. The gondola was controversial because it was where legendary Canadian broadcaster Foster Hewitt regularly called “Hockey Night in Canada” games.
Mismatched seats at Metropolitan Sports Center
Minnesota North Stars (1967-93)
Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the arena was later shortened to “Met Center” and was the home of the North Stars before moving to Dallas. Players liked the ice surface, which rivals that of Edmonton’s Northlands Coliseum, earning it the unofficial title of the fastest ice in the NHL. North Star was rarely good enough to take advantage of it. But during their big postseason runs (including losses in the 1981 and 1991 Stanley Cup Finals), fans watching on TV could see their unique pattern repeating itself between the arena seats. The seats, color-coded white, black, yellow, and green, appeared to be randomly placed throughout the arena. it is, Apparently they were.
Montreal Forum open bench
Montreal Maroons, Montreal Canadiens (1924-96)
With an unparalleled history, the Montreal Forum has attracted many of the NHL’s greatest teams, players, and staff members. Throughout the 1970s, it was essentially the unofficial home rink of the Stanley Cup Final. Canadian superstar goalie Patrick Roy called out the building’s unusualness. There was no glass behind the benches separating the spectators from the players and coaches, giving the Forum an unparalleled intimacy in terms of closeness to the game.
If there was glass behind the bench, Roy would have had to climb it to get to Canadiens president Ronald Coley in 1995. At that time, Roy was furious at being left out of the game after hearing a sarcastic cheer during the team’s blowout loss to the Red Wings. With the Canadiens trailing 9-1, Roy was finally pulled from the game by rookie coach Mario Tremblay. An upset Roy, still seated near Tremblay, walked past the coach several times and eventually leaning on the stand And I told Corey that I had just played my last game against the Canadiens. Four days later, Roy was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
spectrum acoustics
Philadelphia Flyers (1967-96)
When it was first opened, Spectrum was nicknamed a “tuna can” because of its appearance. And early in his life, roof partially collapsedforcing the Flyers to play games in Toronto, Quebec City, and New York. It wasn’t exactly the best beginning for what would become one of the NHL’s most lively venues. The bullying of the Flyers and the murderous intent of the fans became synonymous with this building. But it was its acoustics that contributed to the Spectrum’s intimidating nature. called “America’s Showplace” Rock bands liked the way their music was heard indoors, and the Spectrum’s circular interior design made it one of the NHL’s most deafening arenas. Rarely was the noise in the building as loud as when a brawl broke out during a Flyers game.
civic arena steel dome
Pittsburgh Penguins (1967-2010)
In fact, the Penguins once played in an arena nicknamed “The Igloo” because it was on the grounds of Civic Arena. stainless steel dome. Perfect, right? This building was the first sports venue with a retractable roof. Why does a hockey arena have a roof that opens within minutes?The Civic Arena was designed for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera when it debuted in 1961. Six years later, the NHL came to Pittsburgh, and the Penguins played at Civic Arena until 2010. The arena was not built with hockey or sporting events in mind, so the stands had a steep slope. Fans in the back rows were able to touch the dome, and this continued as new sections were added to the arena.
St. Louis Arena rooftop
St. Louis Blues (1967-94)
Officially known at one time as the “Checkerdome,” the Blues’ first hockey home was a massive structure comparable to New York’s Madison Square Garden. Like the Penguins in Pittsburgh and the Sharks in San Jose, the Blues played in an arena with an unforgettable roof. The St. Louis one was supported by cantilevered steel trusses and consisted of diagonally connected ribs. It was known as the “lamellar” roof design. According to one report, “There is no longer a need for large pillars that block the view.” As for the nickname “Checkerdome,” it was the name given to it in 1977 when Ralston Purina purchased the St. Louis Arena and the Blues.
The NHL Arena Ranking Series is part of our partnership with StubHub. The Athletic Maintain complete editorial independence. Partners have no control or involvement in the reporting or editorial process, and do not review stories before publication.