Ricoh Coliseum

Ricoh Coliseum
Former names
  • CNE Coliseum
  • Royal Coliseum[1]
Location 45 Manitoba Drive
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 3C3
Coordinates 43°38′08.27″N 79°24′54.14″W / 43.6356306°N 79.4150389°W / 43.6356306; -79.4150389Coordinates: 43°38′08.27″N 79°24′54.14″W / 43.6356306°N 79.4150389°W / 43.6356306; -79.4150389
Public transit Exhibition GO Station
Exhibition Loop
Owner City of Toronto
Operator Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Capacity Ice hockey 7,851;[2] 8,140 (including standing room)[3]
Concerts 9,250
Wrestling 10,279
Construction
Broke ground 1920
Opened December 16, 1921
Renovated 1963, 1997, 2003
Construction cost CA$1 million
$3 million (1963 renovation)
$38 million (2003 renovation)[4][5]
Architect George F.W. Price (original)[6]
Brisbin Brook Beynon, Architects (renovation)
Tenants
Toronto-Buffalo Royals (WTT) (1974)
Toronto Marlies (AHL) (2005–present)
Toronto Triumph (LFL) (2011-2012)
Toronto Roadrunners (AHL) (2003–2004)

Ricoh Coliseum is an arena at Exhibition Place in Toronto, used for agricultural displays, ice hockey and trade shows. It was built for the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (Royal) in 1921. It was formerly known as the CNE Coliseum. Since 1997, it has been part of the "National Trade Centre" (now known as the Enercare Centre) exhibition complex.

It serves as the home arena of the Toronto Marlies ice hockey team, the American Hockey League farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the 2015 Pan American Games the venue hosted the gymnastics competitions and was known as the Toronto Coliseum.[7]

History

On January 1, 1920, City taxpayers approved by plebiscite[8] a proposal by the Royal Agricultural Fair Association to construct, at a maximum cost of CA$1 million, a new arena for live stock. The City made a call for tenders in the fall of 1920 but the lowest tender was $1.9 million, exceeding the mandate approved by plebiscite. The size of the planned building was reduced by half in an attempt to get the cost under $1 million and a new call for tenders was done.[9] The lowest tender received was from Anglin-Norcross Ltd. of Montreal for $892,000 to build the building to City Architect F. W. Price's specifications. There was reticence to hire a Montreal firm, and the city held off on awarding the contract while Price sought out construction offers from local firms to do the work using day labour, although the legality of this was questioned.[10] Another issue raised was that the revised arena design needed to be expanded to meet the fair's needs. Anglin-Norcross offered to do the work at a further $31,000. It took two Council votes, but Council finally approved the awarding of the contract to Anglin-Norcross on May 26, 1921.[11] Demolition of existing buildings on the site commenced a few days later and arena work commenced in June 1921.[12] The cornerstone was laid by Toronto Mayor Thomas Church[13] on July 27, 1921 and Robert Fleming, President of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) declared that the building would be the largest of its kind in the world,[14] with a floor space of 8.5 acres (3.4 ha).[15]

The Fair Association had hoped for the arena to be open by the fall of 1921 to inaugurate the new fair, but it was not ready. The $1 million building had its official public opening on December 16, 1921, attended by 5,000 persons to see an athletic meet put on by the "Sportsmen Patriotic Association."[16] Upon completion, the building was billed as the largest of its kind in North America.[17] The name "Coliseum" was given to the building in 1922, in time for the opening of the CNE.[18] The main entrance was to the north, along Manitoba Drive. The southern side of the building was along the main TTC streetcar rail lines serving the CNE, which separated the Coliseum and Industry Buildings to the north, and the later Engineering and Electrical Building (1928) to the south. In 1926, additions were built and the complex was claimed to be the largest structure of its kind under one roof in the world.[19] In 1931, the Horse Palace was built next door to provide a permanent building for the stables of the Winter Fair.[20]

From 1942 to 1945, the building was used as a training base for the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and known as the 'Manning Depot'.[17] A photo of it as the RCAF Manning Depot is in the New Westminster Museum and Archives # IHP9562-003. After the war, it mainly hosted equestrian events for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the CNE and other events. The arena was also used as a horse barn.

In time for the 1963 CNE, the southern facade was reconstructed.[21] As part of the renovation, the southern facade was cladded with black, grey and white siding and a new front plaza was built, with a large "COLISEUM" sign on top. The CNE spent CA$3 million from 1960 until 1963 on "face-lifting" the Coliseum.[22] In 1997, the National Trade Centre (now the Enercare Centre) exhibition complex was built. The new project removed the 1963 entrance and cladding, restoring the original facade, although the cupola towers on the southern facade had been removed in the 1963 renovation. Access to the Coliseum was moved to the western entrance of the exhibition complex through a hall known as Heritage Court.[23]

In November 2002, the City of Toronto agreed to an extensive renovation of the Coliseum to attract a professional ice hockey team to the arena.[24] At a cost of $38 million, the arena's capacity was expanded from 6,500 to 9,700 by building a new higher roof, lowering the floor, adding new seats in the expanded area[4][5] and the installation of 38 private suites.[4] Borealis Infrastructure contributed $9 million up front and $20 million of borrowed funds in return for a 49-year lease to the arena.[25][26] The City of Toronto invested $9 million in the project and guaranteed Borealis' loans, while remaining the owner of the building.[4][25][24][26]

In 2003, Japanese office supply company Ricoh purchased the naming rights to the new facility for $10 million over ten years, with an optional five-year extension.[4][5][25][27]

During the summer of 2015, a new scoreboard was installed at the Air Canada Centre, and the old scoreboard was installed at Ricoh Coliseum.[28]

Usage

Since November 1922, the Coliseum has been used by the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair held in November annually except during the years of World War II. The Fair uses the arena for the annual "Royal Horse Show" equestrian competition, as well as animal presentations.

Each year in August, the Coliseum is used by the CNE for exhibits and performances. It has in the past used for CNE cat, dog and horse shows. Until 2013, the CNE held the CNE Horse Show, a competitive event in the Coliseum. At one time run during the Ex, it changed to be a pre-CNE event in 2005.[29]It has been used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. During the 2009, 2010 and 2011 CNE, it was used for a figure skating show.

The arena is also used for trade shows. The annual Boat Show builds an indoor pond over the arena floor.

Ice hockey

In the early 2000s, there were efforts to outfit the arena for a minor professional ice hockey team. Plans to move the dormant Phoenix Roadrunners of the International Hockey League to Toronto for the 2002-2003 season fell apart when the league dissolved and six teams, but not the Roadrunners, were absorbed by the American Hockey League (AHL) in the summer of 2001.[30][25] The same group then attempted to purchase the Louisville Panthers AHL franchise, which had suspended operations for the 2001-2002 season, and relocate it to the Coliseum, but the AHL voted against the transaction in December 2001.[31][32][27] The Toronto Maple Leafs pressured the Hamilton Bulldogs, who held territorial rights to Toronto since it fell within their 50-mile home territory, to veto the transaction.[31] The Leafs reportedly did not want the Coliseum to be upgraded as it would compete with their newly opened Air Canada Centre.[25] Next, the group began pursuing the Bulldogs, which were owned by their NHL affiliate the Edmonton Oilers.[32][27][33] The Bulldogs did not require league approval to move to Toronto since the Coliseum was within their territory.[25][27][33][34] An agreement was reached with the Oilers to relocate the Bulldogs to Toronto, and to rename them the Toronto Roadrunners. Borealis signed a 49-year sublease to the building with the Roadrunners for $9,500 per game.[25][26]

On November 1, 2003, the Coliseum made its debut as an ice hockey venue, as the Roadrunners tied the Rochester Americans 1-1. However, the Roadrunners' lease was terminated in June 2004, following their first season, for defaulting on its rent.[26][35] The Oilers chose to relocate the Roadrunners to Edmonton for the following season due to poor attendance and in anticipation of the impending NHL lockout.

The Coliseum was left without a hockey tenant for a year, but in August 2004 Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced that they would relocate their AHL farm team from St. John's, Newfoundland to Toronto to play in the Coliseum for the 2005-2006 season,[36] after agreeing on a 20-year lease for the arena.[26] Their lease calls for rent to cover debt financing charges, property taxes and generate a return to the arena investors,[37] which exceeds $4 million annually.[38] The team, which was subsequently renamed the Toronto Marlies, debuted in their new home on October 12, 2005 with a 5-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch, in front of a crowd of 8,056.

The Ricoh Coliseum hosted the 2007 AHL All-Star Game on January 29, 2007.

Other sports

On April 4, 1922, it was the site of the Johnny Dundee vs Jimmy Goodrich boxing match promoted by Jack Corcoran that set a new indoor sports attendance record for Toronto with 11,900 spectators packed into the building. The mark would stand until the construction of Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931. Ricoh Coliseum hosted the Lingerie Football League's Toronto Triumph in their lone season in operation in 2012. The venue has also played host to several WWE and TNA live events. On March 1, 2013 the Ricoh Coliseum broke a new attendance record with 10,279 professional wrestling fans.

From July 11 to the 20th, 2015, the Coliseum hosted the gymnastics competition of the 2015 Pan American Games. It also hosted the Longines World Cup Jumping (Equestrian) Championships in November, 2015.

Concerts

The Coliseum has been used for numerous musical concerts. Acts that have performed there include Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, Genesis, Vanilla Fudge and Kraftwerk.[39] From 1922 to 1934, the CNE's Canadian National Exhibition Chorus performed in the arena.[40] In 2007, the Coliseum hosted the first We Day concert.[41]

Gallery

Exterior
Interior

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ricoh Coliseum.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Filey 1996, p. 72.
  2. ↑ "Staff Directory". Toronto Marlies. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Seating Capacity". Ricoh Coliseum. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Christie, James (January 16, 2003). "Coliseum Gets Makeover". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ricoh Canada Inc. Announces the Opening of Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum" (Press release). Ricoh Canada, Inc. November 6, 2003. Archived from the original on November 6, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Coliseum Complex, Exhibition Place - G.F.W. Price, City Architect". Toronto History. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ Gilbert, Erika (15 July 2015). "Guide to the 2015 Pan Am Games: Everything you need to know about artistic gymnastics". National Post (Toronto, Canada). Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Total Vote Poled For Mayor, Controllers And Bylaws". Toronto World. January 2, 1920. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Change In Size of Fair Arena". The Globe. April 15, 1921. p. 8.
  10. ↑ "City Architect Is Told To Build Live Stock Arena". Toronto Star. May 6, 1921. p. 1.
  11. ↑ "Arena Contracts Are Debated by City Council". Toronto Star. May 27, 1921. p. 1.
  12. ↑ "Pay Cut-Rate Wages On Arena Contracts?". Toronto Star. June 29, 1921. p. 19.
  13. ↑ "C.N.E.; Coliseum, laying of cornerstone by T. L. Church. Toronto, Ont.". Toronto Public Library. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Mayor Well And Truly Lays Corner-Stone Of New Arena". The Globe. July 28, 1921. p. 6.
  15. ↑ "New Live Stock Arena Assuming Shape". Toronto Star. July 27, 1921. p. 3.
  16. ↑ "5,000 People Attend Opening of New Arena". Toronto Star. December 17, 1921. p. 3.
  17. 1 2 "Walking Tours". Exhibition Place. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Council To Consider Rental of Coliseum". Toronto Globe. July 8, 1922. p. 17.
  19. ↑ "Open Plaques: Toronto, ON, Canada: Unphotographed". openplaques.org. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  20. ↑ "New Million-Dollar Exhibition Stables Completed Tomorrow". Toronto Star. August 14, 1931. p. 24.
  21. ↑ "World's Biggest, The CNE Just Another Month Away". Toronto Star. July 17, 1963. p. 33.
  22. ↑ Lee, Betty (August 23, 1963). "How Much Has The CNE Changed?". The Globe and Mail. p. 7.
  23. ↑ Hume, Christopher (April 5, 1997). "Vast trade centre shows two faces". Toronto Star. p. M7.
  24. 1 2 Campbell, Ken (November 29, 2002). "AHL Team Back on Ice". Toronto Star.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Deal with the City Had Its Skeptics". Toronto Star. November 1, 2003.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Expansion of MLSEL Office Space in Ricoh Coliseum" (PDF). Exhibition Place. June 26, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Ireland, Joanne (April 18, 2002). "Hamilton Bulldogs Unleashed to Become Toronto Roadrunners: New Deal Will Save Oilers Several Million Dollars". Edmonton Journal.
  28. ↑ Mudhar (2015-07-24). "Air Canada Centre to debut new scoreboard this year". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  29. ↑ "CNE cancels Horse Show competition". Inside Toronto. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  30. ↑ Campbell, Ken (June 1, 2001). "Roadrunners' Future in the IHL Looks Pretty Grim ; Team's Hopes of Survival Seem to Be on Life Support". Toronto Star.
  31. 1 2 Mckay, Garry (July 7, 2001). "Bulldogs at Centre of Louisville Relocation". The Hamilton Spectator.
  32. 1 2 Peters, Ken (April 3, 2002). "Deal to Bring AHL to the CNE 'Close' ; Hamilton's Bulldogs Could Become the Toronto Roadrunners". Toronto Star.
  33. 1 2 "AHL Bulldogs Eyeing Move to Toronto". Guelph Mercury. April 1, 2002.
  34. ↑ Thompson, Robert (October 25, 2003). "Roadrunners Aim to Score at Box Office: Toronto's New Hockey Team Vows to Make Money". National Post.
  35. ↑ Erwin, Steve (June 16, 2004). "Oilers' Farm Team Caught in Lease Controversy at Ricoh". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Leafs Making Final Run in St. John's". American Hockey League. November 29, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Comprehensive Review of City's Loan Guarantee and Loan Portfolio" (PDF). City of Toronto. April 9, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  38. ↑ Peddie, Richard (2013). Dream Job. Harper Collins.
  39. ↑ "History - Ricoh Coliseum". Ricoh Coliseum.
  40. ↑ "Canadian National Exhibition Chorus". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Evolution of a Movement". We Day. Retrieved August 18, 2015.

External links

 Gardiner Expressway / Exhibition GO Station / Exhibition Loop (TTC)
Horse Palace Princes' Gates
   Ricoh Coliseum  
Enercare Centre
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