London Ice House
Encyclopedia
The London Ice House is an arena
in London, Ontario
, Canada
. It was originally built in 1963 and was home to the London Knights
ice hockey
team from 1965-2002. The arena had a capacity of 5,075 and was originally known as Treasure Island Gardens, but most notably known as the London Gardens, from its opening until its rebranding in 1994. The building was a part of the Superstore Mall complex and originally included a second ice pad, although it was removed in the 1970s (and is now a part of the furniture store next door). 1994 was the year when the London Knights
and the building were purchased by new owner Doug Tarry, who changed the name of the building to the Ice House. Tarry upgraded the building in 1994, including replacing the seats on the sides and adding more emergency exits to bring the building up to the fire code, but once the refurbishing was complete the team and building went downhill steadily, as Tarry preferred to allow the building to deteriorate as part of his lobbying the city for a new arena, given that they were the only team in the OHL who owned their own building without municipal assistance and taxes in excess of $125,000 per year as of 1999. The team was sold as the city warmed up to building a new facility. The London Knights underwent a renaissance after being purchased by Dale
and Mark Hunter in a deal brokered by George Georgopoulos who was negotiating with the City for a multi-purpose entertainment centre and arena in Downtown London. The team would leave the Gardens/Ice House in 2002 and relocate to the newly built John Labatt Centre
on the former Talbot Block, which was built as part of the city's effort to revitalize the area. The last meaningful goal in the old arena was scored by Erie Otter
Carlo Colaiacovo
in the 2002 playoffs.
The Rolling Stones
played the arena on April 26, 1965, but due to rioting in the audience, the show was shut down by police after only 15 minutes. Mick Jagger
promised the disappointed crowd the group would return to London for a make-up show, but over 40 years later, it has never happened.
The arena's most famous moment came in February 1968, when singer Johnny Cash
proposed onstage to his longtime partner, June Carter Cash
, during a concert at the building.
After the Ice House's closure it was purchased by investors who turned it into a motocross
facility called the London Motoplex, however they went bankrupt within eight months. Most of the old seats and all of the hockey memorabilia was sold at auction. The 1994-era seats were purchased by the Windsor Spitfires
organization, who installed them at the Windsor Arena
. After the Motoplex went under, a liquidator
sold the building to another group of investors who constructed a bicycle
track on the arena floor. Today the Ice House building is home to the Forest City Velodrome
.
42.917793°N 81.207214°W
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was originally built in 1963 and was home to the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team from 1965-2002. The arena had a capacity of 5,075 and was originally known as Treasure Island Gardens, but most notably known as the London Gardens, from its opening until its rebranding in 1994. The building was a part of the Superstore Mall complex and originally included a second ice pad, although it was removed in the 1970s (and is now a part of the furniture store next door). 1994 was the year when the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
and the building were purchased by new owner Doug Tarry, who changed the name of the building to the Ice House. Tarry upgraded the building in 1994, including replacing the seats on the sides and adding more emergency exits to bring the building up to the fire code, but once the refurbishing was complete the team and building went downhill steadily, as Tarry preferred to allow the building to deteriorate as part of his lobbying the city for a new arena, given that they were the only team in the OHL who owned their own building without municipal assistance and taxes in excess of $125,000 per year as of 1999. The team was sold as the city warmed up to building a new facility. The London Knights underwent a renaissance after being purchased by Dale
Dale Hunter
Dale Robert Hunter is a former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-NHL career:...
and Mark Hunter in a deal brokered by George Georgopoulos who was negotiating with the City for a multi-purpose entertainment centre and arena in Downtown London. The team would leave the Gardens/Ice House in 2002 and relocate to the newly built John Labatt Centre
John Labatt Centre
The John Labatt Centre is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario, Canada -- the largest such centre in southwestern Ontario.The John Labatt Centre, usually referred to as the "JLC", opened on October 11, 2002. It is named after John Labatt, founder of the Labatt brewery in London...
on the former Talbot Block, which was built as part of the city's effort to revitalize the area. The last meaningful goal in the old arena was scored by Erie Otter
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
Carlo Colaiacovo
Carlo Colaiacovo
Carlo Colaiacovo is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League . Colaiacovo also has an identical twin brother, Paulo Colaiacovo, who is a professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:...
in the 2002 playoffs.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
played the arena on April 26, 1965, but due to rioting in the audience, the show was shut down by police after only 15 minutes. Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
promised the disappointed crowd the group would return to London for a make-up show, but over 40 years later, it has never happened.
The arena's most famous moment came in February 1968, when singer Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
proposed onstage to his longtime partner, June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
, during a concert at the building.
After the Ice House's closure it was purchased by investors who turned it into a motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
facility called the London Motoplex, however they went bankrupt within eight months. Most of the old seats and all of the hockey memorabilia was sold at auction. The 1994-era seats were purchased by the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
organization, who installed them at the Windsor Arena
Windsor Arena
Windsor Arena is an indoor arena located in Windsor, Ontario. Its capacity is approximately 4,400 with standing room. The arena's ice is an asymmetrical by or...
. After the Motoplex went under, a liquidator
Liquidator (law)
In law, a liquidator is the officer appointed when a company goes into winding-up or liquidation who has responsibility for collecting in all of the assets of the company and settling all claims against the company before putting the company into dissolution....
sold the building to another group of investors who constructed a bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
track on the arena floor. Today the Ice House building is home to the Forest City Velodrome
Forest City Velodrome
The Forest City Velodrome is an indoor cycling facility in London, Ontario, Canada. The building was constructed in 1963 as the London Gardens, home to the London Knights ice hockey team. In 1994 it was renamed London Ice House...
.
External links
42.917793°N 81.207214°W