| Oncenter War Memorial Arena | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Onondaga War Memorial |
| Location | 800 South State Street Syracuse, New York, USA 13202 |
| Broke ground | 1950 |
| Opened | September 12, 1951[1] |
| Renovated | 1994 |
| Owner | Onondaga County |
| Operator | Onondaga County |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction cost | $3,719,000[2] ($31.4 million in 2012 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Edgarton & Edgarton; Ammann & Whitney |
| Capacity | 8,000 (floor events) 6,159 (hockey)[4] |
| Tenants | |
| Syracuse Warriors (AHL) (1951–1954) Syracuse Nationals (NBA) (1951–1963) Syracuse Eagles (AHL) (1974–1975) Syracuse Blazers (NAHL) (1967-76) Syracuse Firebirds (AHL) (1979–1980) Syracuse Smash (NLL) (1997–2000) Syracuse Soldiers (AIFL) (2006) Syracuse Raging Bullz (ABA) (2007) Syracuse Crunch (AHL) (1994–present) Syracuse Silver Knights (MISL) (2011- present) |
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The War Memorial at Oncenter, originally the Onondaga War Memorial, is a 6,159-seat multi-purpose arena in Downtown Syracuse, New York. It is part of the Oncenter Complex.
Designed by Edgarton and Edgarton and built from 1949 through 1951, the structure is significant as an example of a World War I, World War II and Aroostook War commemorative[5] and as "an early and sophisticated example of single-span thin-shell [concrete roof] construction" [6]. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The War Memorial is home to the Syracuse Crunch Ice hockey team. For the 2011-12 Major Indoor Soccer League season War Memorial will be the home for the Syracuse Silver Knights.
Previous teams to call the War Memorial home included the NBA's Syracuse Nationals and several now-defunct American Hockey League teams. The Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in a deciding seventh game at home to win the 1954-1955 NBA Championship. The War Memorial also hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1961 and the NCAA Frozen Four in 1967 and 1971.
The 1977 film Slap Shot included the War Memorial among the various arenas used as shooting locations for in-game action[7].
Professional wrestling has also experienced its share of history at the War Memorial. Shortly after completion of filming of the World Championship Wrestling-produced film Ready to Rumble, actor David Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship title on April 26, 2000 in a taping of the company's weekly Thunder broadcast, which is often cited as being the first legitimate sign of the demise of WCW. It also hosted the first WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1995. In April 1998 the Oncenter hosted WWF Monday Night Raw. The Oncenter is occasionally host to WWE house shows.
It is also a prominent concert venue in the region, which includes various KISS, Bruce Springsteen, and Aerosmith shows among numerous others over the years.
On top of the arena's stage are the words, "In memory of our service veterans."
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by State Fair Coliseum |
Home of the Syracuse Nationals 1951 – 1963 |
Succeeded by Convention Hall & Philadelphia Arena |
| Preceded by Convention Hall |
Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1961 |
Succeeded by Kiel Auditorium |
| Preceded by Williams Arena Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Host of the Frozen Four 1967 |
Succeeded by Duluth Arena Duluth, Minnesota |
| Preceded by Olympic Center Lake Placid, New York |
Host of the Frozen Four 1971 |
Succeeded by Boston Garden Boston, Massachusetts |
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