Hara Arena

Hara Arena
Trotwood Dome
Location 1001 Shiloh Springs Road
Trotwood, Ohio 45415
Coordinates 39°49′16″N 84°15′22″W / 39.82111°N 84.25611°W / 39.82111; -84.25611
Capacity 5,500 permanent seats
1,500 additional festival seats
Field size Ice surface: 195 x 84 ft (59 x 26 m)
Surface Concrete/Ice
Opened 1964
Tenants
Dayton Gems (IHL) (1964–1977, 1979–1980)
Dayton Dynamo (AISA) (1988–1990)
Dayton Bombers (ECHL) (1991–1996)
Dayton Ice Bandits (CHL) (1996–1997)
Dayton Sky Hawks (IFL) (1999–2000)
Dayton Jets (IBL) (2005)
The Marshals (NIFL) (2007)
Dayton Gems (IHL/CHL) (2009–2012)
Dayton Silverbacks (CIFL) (2011–2012)
Dayton Demonz (FHL) (2012–2015)
Gem City Rollergirls (WFTDA) (2012–2014)
Dayton Sharks (CIFL) (2013–2014)
Dayton Demolition (FHL) (2015–present)
Website
www.haracomplex.com

Hara Arena is a 5,500-seat multi-purpose arena located in the Dayton, Ohio suburb of Trotwood. Hara Arena is currently home to the Dayton Demolition of the Federal Hockey League.

At one time, it hosted the Dayton Jets basketball team and Dayton Gems (1964–1977, 1979–1980 and 2009–2012), Dayton Blue Hawks, Dayton Owls, Dayton Bombers, Dayton Ice Bandits, and Dayton Demonz ice hockey teams and the Marshals indoor football team.

History

The site was originally the family-owned fruit orchard of Harold and Ralph Wampler.The name stems from HA from Harold and RA from Ralph. In 1956, the Wampler Ballroom was erected, which still stands today in the six-building complex. The arena itself opened in 1964. The original plans did not include an ice rink, but were changed to accommodate the Dayton Gems who were looking for a home arena. The complex now spans 165,000 square feet (15,300 m2) which consists of the main arena, four exhibition halls, a conference center, a pub and a golf course.

This arena is where Wayne Gretzky played his first professional hockey game;[1] a pre-season game between the Indianapolis Racers and the Cincinnati Stingers, on September 27, 1978.

Championship Teams at Hara

Professional wrestling

Hara was the scene every other Monday night in the 60's & 70's for the "Original" Big Time Wrestling, featuring such stars as the Sheik, Bobo Brazil, Fred & Bull Curry, Igor, Mark Lewin, Ox Baker, and many other wrestling stars. The ring announcer for most of the events was Les Pomervlle. Hara also hosted Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1983 & 1984. It also hosted a WWF Superstars of Wrestling TV taping in March, 1987, a WWF Wrestling Challenge taping in August, 1988, and the Pay-Per-View events as follows: the 1995 WCW Great American Bash, WCW/NWO Souled Out 1998, and ECW Heatwave 1998 and ECW Heatwave 1999.

Other events

The arena is also venue to many types of concerts, music festivals, trade shows and conventions, including the annual Dayton Hamvention. The Miami Valley Home Improvement Show also takes place yearly here.

Hara Arena was also one of the tour stops for the Taste of Chaos tour until the tour stopped and changed its name to the Uproar Festival.

The Jacksons performed at Hara Arena on August 23, 1981 during their Triumph Tour.[2]

Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians also performed at Hara Arena on October 2, 1976.[3]

Anthrax, Exodus and Helloween performed at the arena during the Headbangers Ball Tour on April 24, 1989.[4][5]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Becky Grimes (2009-09-30). "Hockey Returns To Hara Arena". Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  2. ↑ Triumph Tour
  3. ↑ "Guy Lombardo - October, 1976 Itinerary".
  4. ↑ http://www.metallipromo.com/an.html
  5. ↑ http://www.metallipromo.com/ex.html
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