Pat Stapleton Arena

{{Short description|Arena in Sarina, Ontario}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox venue | name=Pat Stapleton Arena | image= File:Sarnia Arena - Sarnia, ON.jpg | location=134 Brock Street South Sarnia, Ontario N7T 2W2 | broke_ground=1948 | opened=1948 | owner=City of Sarnia | operator=City of Sarnia | tenants=Sarnia Sting (OHL) (1994–1998) Sarnia Sailors (OHA) (1953–1954) Sarnia Legionnaires (WOHL) (1954–1968) Sarnia Legionnaires (SOJAHL) (1968–1970) Sarnia Bees (WOHL) (1969–1995) Sarnia Steeplejacks (WOHL) (1995–1999) Sarnia Steeplejack Bees (WOHL) (1999–2001) Sarnia Blast (WOHL) (2001–2008) Sarnia Legionnaires (WOHL) (2008–present) | seating_capacity=Ice hockey: 2,302 }}

The '''Pat Stapleton Arena''' is a 2,302 capacity arena in Sarnia, Ontario that is home to the Sarnia Legionnaires, one of the most successful teams in Canadian junior ice hockey history.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Located at the corner of Wellington and Brock Streets, it is the largest arena owned by the city of Sarnia.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

It was built in 1948 and is currently home to the Legionnaires of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, as well as minor hockey teams and minor hockey tournaments.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

The Legionnaires have won six championships and launched the careers of nine NHL players, including Hall of Famer Phil Esposito. Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley credits the Legionnaires with keeping the Pat Stapleton Arena alive. In fact, because the team drew such huge crowds in the 2008–09 season, city council decided to put in new seating, higher glass and to repair the roof.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} There had been talk of tearing the building down, but that disappeared after the '09 Legionnaires drew more than 50,000 fans to their games. While used primarily for ice hockey, it is also used for skating lessons, public skating sessions, the circus, high school graduation ceremonies, and other special events. Until McMorran Place in Port Huron, Michigan was built in 1960, it was the Blue Water region's primary concert venue.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

The Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League played at the arena briefly in the mid-1990s while the Progressive Auto Sales Arena (Formally the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre) was under construction. The arena was not large enough to host the OHL team permanently, and the Sting were only allowed to move to Sarnia on the condition that a new arena be built.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In January 1957 the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL played an exhibition game at the Sarnia Arena against the Legionnaires. The Hawks won, but the Sarnia Jr. 'B' team got six goals{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}.

In 2021, the '''Sarnia Arena''' was renamed '''Pat Stapleton Arena''' after the late Pat Stapleton.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morden |first1=Paul |title=Pat Stapleton Arena officially reopens in Sarnia |url=https://www.sarniathisweek.com/news/local-news/pat-stapleton-arena-officially-reopens-in-sarnia-2 |website=Sarnia This Week |access-date=3 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916162650/https://www.sarniathisweek.com/news/local-news/pat-stapleton-arena-officially-reopens-in-sarnia-2 |archive-date=16 September 2022 |date=12 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==External links== * [http://www.ohlarenaguide.com/sarena.htm The OHL Arena & Travel Guide - Sarnia Arena] * [http://www.city.sarnia.on.ca/things-to-do/facilities/arenas/sarnia-arena Sarnia Arena]

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Indoor arenas in Ontario Category:Ice hockey venues in Ontario Category:Ontario Hockey League arenas Category:Sports in Sarnia Category:1948 establishments in Ontario Category:Sports venues completed in 1948