Louis J. Tullio Arena
Encyclopedia
The Louis J. Tullio Arena (commonly referred to as just Tullio Arena or Erie Civic Center) is a 5,586-seat multi-purpose arena
, in Erie
, Pennsylvania
, United States
.
It was built in 1983, as part of the Erie Civic Center complex, which also includes the Warner Theatre
and Jerry Uht Park
.
The arena is named after former Erie mayor
Louis J. Tullio
.
The arena features 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) of trade show and exhibit space for conventions and trade shows. There are five suites at the arena, each seating 20. As a concert venue, the Arena seats up to 7,938 in center-stage configuration and 7,526 in end-stage configuration. The suites are not used during end-stage concert configurations.
It is home to the Erie Otters
ice hockey
team, the Erie Explosion indoor football team, and the Erie BayHawks
basketball
team.
The arena is also known as one of the loudest places to play throughout the Ontario Hockey League
. This is due to the large amount of bare concrete and lack of sound dampening panels.
It was also the proposed location of the 2002 Memorial Cup
, however it was not chosen to host the event.
Renovation plans for the arena have been completed, and the two year construction project is set to start shortly. Upgrades include more seating around the head of the arena, removal of the front parking lot and garage and turning it into a natural amphitheater (convertible to an ice rink during the winter months), an upper bar and restaurant area in the front of the arena overlooking the event area, a brand new glass facade, and a deck on the side of the arena overlooking Jerry Uht Park, among other changes.
The Louis J. Tullio Arena was selected to host the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four ice hockey championship.
. The system, along with the work of the Erie Fire Department, was able to control the fire in about thirty minutes. The fire caused significant damage to both the storage room and upper lobby area. Operation of the arena was not disrupted.
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 Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It was built in 1983, as part of the Erie Civic Center complex, which also includes the Warner Theatre
Warner Theatre (Erie, Pennsylvania)
The Warner Theatre is an Art Deco and French Renaissance-styled theater located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Warner was designed by Chicago-architects Rapp and Rapp and was opened in 1931. It was used as...
and Jerry Uht Park
Jerry Uht Park
Jerry Uht Park is a 6,952-seat baseball-only stadium in Erie, Pennsylvania that hosted its first regular season baseball game on June 20, 1995, as the tenants of the facility, the Erie SeaWolves, defeated the Jamestown Jammers....
.
The arena is named after former Erie mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Louis J. Tullio
Louis J. Tullio
Louis J. Tullio was the Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania for eight terms from 1966 until 1989. He was the first Italian-American elected to this position.Tullio had a childhood goal of becoming Mayor of Erie...
.
The arena features 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) of trade show and exhibit space for conventions and trade shows. There are five suites at the arena, each seating 20. As a concert venue, the Arena seats up to 7,938 in center-stage configuration and 7,526 in end-stage configuration. The suites are not used during end-stage concert configurations.
It is home to the Erie Otters
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...
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, the Erie Explosion indoor football team, and the Erie BayHawks
Erie BayHawks
The Erie BayHawks are a 2008-09 expansion team in the NBA Development League. The team plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.The "BayHawks" name is a reference to Presque Isle Bay, on which the city of Erie lies...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team.
The arena is also known as one of the loudest places to play throughout the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. This is due to the large amount of bare concrete and lack of sound dampening panels.
It was also the proposed location of the 2002 Memorial Cup
2002 Memorial Cup
The 2002 Memorial Cup occurred May 18-26 at the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre in Guelph, Ontario. It featured the host team, the Guelph Storm as well as the winners of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League which were the Erie Otters,...
, however it was not chosen to host the event.
Renovation plans for the arena have been completed, and the two year construction project is set to start shortly. Upgrades include more seating around the head of the arena, removal of the front parking lot and garage and turning it into a natural amphitheater (convertible to an ice rink during the winter months), an upper bar and restaurant area in the front of the arena overlooking the event area, a brand new glass facade, and a deck on the side of the arena overlooking Jerry Uht Park, among other changes.
The Louis J. Tullio Arena was selected to host the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four ice hockey championship.
Fire
On Monday, February 22, 2010, a fire broke out in a storage room near the upper lobby of the arena. The fire activated the arena's fire suppression systemFire suppression system
Fire suppression systems are used in conjunction with smoke detectors and fire alarm systems to improve and increase public safety. Suppression systems are governed by the codes under the NFPA 13 handbook.-Types:...
. The system, along with the work of the Erie Fire Department, was able to control the fire in about thirty minutes. The fire caused significant damage to both the storage room and upper lobby area. Operation of the arena was not disrupted.