General Motors Centre

General Motors Centre
GM Centre
General Motors Centre
Location 99 Athol Street East, Oshawa, ON
Owner City of Oshawa
Operator Global Spectrum
Capacity
  • Hockey: 5,180, 6,107 with standing room
  • Concerts: 3,200 - 7,300
  • Club Seats: 530
  • Standing Room:240
  • Private Suites: 23
  • Group Suites: 4
Construction
Broke ground June 22, 2005
Opened November 3, 2006
Construction cost $45 million
($50.7 million in 2015 dollars[1])
Architect NORR Limited
Project manager WeirFoulds
Structural engineer IBI Group, Inc.
General contractor Giffels Design-Build Inc.
Tenants
Oshawa Generals (OHL) (2007-Present)
Oshawa Power (NBL Canada) (2011-2013)
Oshawa Machine (CLax)
Durham TurfDogs (CLax)
2015 Pan American Games (Boxing and Weightlifting) (2015)
Website
www.generalmotorscentre.com

The General Motors Centre, also known as the GM Centre or GMC, is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Oshawa, Ontario which opened in November 2006. The GM Centre was constructed to replace the Oshawa Civic Auditorium. The main tenants are the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League and the Durham TurfDogs of the Canadian Lacrosse League. The facility also features the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame, Prospects Bar and Grill, an Oshawa Generals retail store, executive seating and special club seats.

Ownership, management and naming rights

The GM Centre is owned by the city of Oshawa. On October 5, 2006, General Motors obtained the naming rights of the arena. The City originally selected Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) to manage the building but, after disappointing results in the first year and a half of operations, MLSE requested in March 2008 that its contract be terminated.[2] MLSE had been attempting to get into the business of managing facilities beyond those where their sports teams played but decided to withdraw, with Bob Hunter, MLSE's Vice President of venues and entertainment, saying that managing the arena was "no longer a strategic focus for us".[2][3] Global Spectrum assumed control of the operations and management of the arena on June 30, 2008.[3]

Past events

Elton John x2; Mötley Crüe; KISS; Cirque du Soleil: Dralion, Quidam, Varekai; Tom Jones; INXS; The Tragically Hip x2; Three Days Grace; Sum 41; Alice Cooper x2; Blue Rodeo x3; Bob Dylan; Great Big Sea x2; Johnny Reid x3; Blue Man Group; Trailer Park Boys; Akon; World Rock Symphony Orchestra; Tim Allen; Alan Jackson; Sarah McLachlan; Terri Clark; Selena Gomez; Barenaked Ladies; Hedley x2; Theory of A Deadman & Big Wreck; Marianas Trench; Disney Live! x3; The Wiggles x2; Jeff Dunham x2; Cesar Millan; Riverdance; Lord of the Dance x2; John Mellencamp; John Fogerty; Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall; Marilyn Manson

Sports

Toronto Rock vs. Arizona Sting; ADT Canada vs. Russia; Toronto Maple Leafs "Blue & White" Game; TNA No Surrender - 2008; Toronto Rock vs. Minnesota Swarm; CHL Top Prospects Game; Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships; Harlem Globetrotters; Toronto Marlies vs. Hamilton Bulldogs; Old Timers Hockey Challenge; 2011 NHL Rookie Tournament; 2011 Canada vs The Netherlands International Women's Volleyball Match; 2011 BDO Canadian Open

2015 Pan American Games

For the 2015 Pan American Games the facility will host both weightlifting and boxing events. During the games, the facility will be configured to hold roughly 3,000 spectators per session. During Games time the facility will be known as the Oshawa Sports Centre.[4]

References

  1. Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada. "Consumer Price Index, historical summary". CANSIM, table (for fee) 326-0021 and Catalogue nos. 62-001-X, 62-010-X and 62-557-X. And Consumer Price Index, by province (monthly) (Canada) Last modified 2013-12-20. Retrieved January 8, 2014
  2. 2.0 2.1 "MLSE bows out of management contract with GMC". 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Verge, Jessica (June 25, 2008). "Global Spectrum takes over GM Centre". The Oshawa Express.
  4. "Oshawa Sports Centre". TO2015. Retrieved November 16, 2014.

External links

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Coordinates: 43°53′50″N 78°51′35″W / 43.89722°N 78.85972°W