Main Street Armory
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The Main Street Armory is a multi-purpose arena in Rochester, New York which was built in 1905 but is currently being refurbished. It is currently undergoing the final phases of refurbishment which will allow it to host mid-size concerts. In 2007, it will be the new home of the Rochester Raiders indoor football team and Next Era Wrestling.
[edit] History
The Armory was built in 1905 for military use. Soldiers on their way overseas to fight in World War I and World War II passed through the armory for final training and processing. The New York National Guard used it as a training facility until 1990.
In between, the 35,000-square-foot (3,300-square-meter) main arena (designed originally for drill exercises) hosted circuses, concerts, balls and auto shows. It was the home arena for the Rochester Iroquois indoor lacrosse team in the 1930s. The Iroquois' most famous player was Jay Silverheels who played Tonto in the Lone Ranger television series from 1949-57. Silverheels played lacrosse under his real name of Harry (Harold) Smith.
The building was also the home of the Rochester Centrals, the city's first professional basketball team from 1925-31. The Centrals played in the American Basketball League for six seasons. The ABL was the country's first professional basketball league. In addition to professional basketball the Armory also hosted many high school games and served as the home court for Rochester East High School. Two future National Basktball Association players came out of East High School in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Walter Dukes (Seton Hall, Detroit Pistons) and Al Butler (Niagara University, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics) played their home games for East High at the Armory.
When the Rochester Community War Memorial Arena (now the Blue Cross Arena) opened in 1955 most of the Armory's signature events left for that venue. The Damascus Temple Shrine Circus left after the 1960 performance. The Main Street Armory remained largely abandoned after the National Guard left in 1990 .
[edit] Today
In July 2005, the building was purchased at auction by local entrepreneur Scott Donaldson. He paid only US$1,000 for the 138,000-square-foot (1,300-square-meter), 7-story building, as no one else bid for it. The arena floor was covered in pigeon droppings, the birds having been the building's primary occupants for fifteen years, and the building's roof, windows, and interior systems were in severe disrepair. Donaldson, who is blind, was told he never would have bought it if he could had seen it, but he has invested thousands of dollars into repairs and refurbishment, and the building is once again hosting events.
The refurbished Armory's first sporting event was Next Era Wrestling's Fatal Attraction show on February 3rd, 2007. It had an attenadance of 150 fans, despite a major snow storm that hit that night. The main event saw WWF Hall of Famers Jimmy Snuka and Tito Santana in action. The Armory is N.E.W.'s home venue, and such wrestling superstars such as L.A.X. (Homicide and Hernandez), Koko B. Ware, Too Cool, The Heart Throbs, and ECW Legend The Sandman have since competed inside the arena.
The refurbished Armory's first concert event was held on February 4, 2006, a performance by O.A.R. More concerts followed later that year, as refurbishment continued. The indie rock band Modest Mouse performed there on April 26, 2007.
The main arena, refurbished to seat 5,000, will be the new home for the Rochester Raiders of the Continental Indoor Football League, starting with the 2007 season. The Raiders played their inaugural season at the ESL Sports Centre, but it was considered less-than-ideal for football. At the Armory, the team can charge less for parking and provide fans with better sight lines and a closer view of the action. In return, the Raiders management expect a more energetic atmosphere thanks to the acoustics and visuals.
Much of the rest of the building is being converted into office space, some of which is already filled.
[edit] References
- Mandelaro, Jim. "Army of one is restoring old armory to usefulness", Democrat and Chronicle, 2006-12-29, p. 1A. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
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