TheUSA Hockey Arenais a multi-purposearenainPlymouth Township, Michigan,opened in 1996. Originally known as theCompuware Sports Arena,its name was shortened toCompuware Arenaon September 11, 2007, to better market the venue for non-sporting events it hosted.[4]It was renamed again to USA Hockey Arena in 2015 when the USA Hockey Foundation purchased the arena.[5]
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  USA Hockey Arena Location within Michigan  USA Hockey Arena Location within the United States | |
| Former names | Compuware Sports Arena (1996–2007) Compuware Arena (2007–2015) |
|---|---|
| Location | 14900 Beck Rd. Plymouth Township, Michigan |
| Owner | USA Hockey |
| Operator | Arena Management Inc. |
| Capacity | 3,504 (seated) 4,500 (incl. standing) |
| Field size | Ice, 200' x 85' |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 1996 |
| Opened | September 10, 1996[3] |
| Construction cost | $22 million |
| Architect | DTS + Winkelmann, LLC[1] |
| Structural engineer | Structural Associates Inc.[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Plymouth Whalers(OHL) (1996–2015) Detroit Rockers(NPSL) (2000–2001) Wayne State Warriors(NCAA) (2003–2005) Detroit Ignition(MISL/XSL) (2006–2009) Detroit Waza(PASL-Pro) (2008–2009) USA Hockey National Team Development Program(USHL) (2015–present) | |
History
editPeter Karmanos,the President ofCompuwareand owner of theDetroit Whalers,arranged to build the Whalers a new home as soon as the 1995–96 season ended after playing that season atOak Park Ice ArenaandThe Palace of Auburn Hills.The Compuware Sports Arena was constructed in six months' time, ready for the 1996–97 season. The team remained the Detroit Whalers after moving to Plymouth Township and then were renamed thePlymouth Whalersin 1997–98.
The complex features two arenas. The main arena, where the Whalers played their home games, has a standard NHL-size rink and has seating for roughly 4,000 people. The second features an Olympic-size ice surface, and 800 seats on only one side of the ice. The two arenas share concession stands, both of which have openings for both arenas simultaneously, allowing one set of staff to serve both arenas simultaneously. The arena was home to the now defunctDetroit Ignition,aMajor Indoor Soccer League/XSLteam, as well as the Compuware Ambassadors minor hockey program. Previously, the arena hosted the now defunctDetroit Rockersof theNational Professional Soccer Leagueduring its last season in 2000-2001. On October 22, 2006,TNAhosted itsBound for Glory 2006pay-per-view at the arena.
The arena also hosts the annualMHSAAhigh school state championships for boys ice hockey, and hosts the commencement ceremonies forAdlai E. Stevenson High School,Northville High School,as well as for other high schools.
In November 2014, it was reported thatUSA Hockeyhad reached an agreement to eventually take over Compuware Arena by mid-2015, with an intent to relocate theNational Team Development Programfrom Ann Arbor to Plymouth, and use the facility to "host and showcase other USA Hockey programs and international events". The Plymouth Whalers were to remain a tenant,[6]but were ultimately sold in January 2015 and re-located toFlint.[7]
In April 2017, USA Hockey Arena hosted the2017 IIHF Women's World Championship.[8]
Notable music performances
edit- Gucci Mane,October 26, 2007
- Journey,November 2, 2008
- The CrofootandAEG Livepresent:Girl Talk,March 3, 2011 (Sold Out)[9]
- Five Finger Death Punch,December 16, 2011
- The CrofootandAEG Livepresent:Hollywood Undead,Asking Alexandria,Borgore,Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows,We Came as Romans,November 9, 2011[10]
- The CrofootandAEG Livepresent:Pretty Lights,TOKiMONSTA,Paul Basic(Sold Out)[11]
- The CrofootandAEG Livepresent:Passion Pit,Matt & Kim,Icona Pop,February 21, 2013 (Sold Out)[12]
- The CrofootandAEG Livepresent: High Velocity Super Action Fun Time Festival featuring:Bring Me the Horizon,We Came as Romans,Of Mice & Men,Attila,Issues,Northlane,Wilson, February 21, 2014 (Sold Out)
References
edit- ^"Compuware Sports Arena".DTS + Winkelmann, LLC.RetrievedOctober 17,2013.
- ^"Compuware Ice Arena".Structural Associates, Inc.RetrievedOctober 17,2013.
- ^"ompuware Sports Arena".Shopclub.RetrievedOctober 17,2013.
- ^"Detroit Free Press - Wayne County News Briefs".September 11, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 11,2007.
- ^"USAH Foundation Completes Compuware Arena Purchase".31 March 2015.
- ^"USA Hockey looking to acquire Compuware Arena".Detroit Free Press.Retrieved7 April2017.
- ^McMann, Aaron (January 14, 2015)."Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers moving to Flint in 2015-16 season".MLive.com.The Flint Journal.RetrievedMarch 16,2015.
- ^Boudette, Neal E. (31 March 2017)."They Finally Got Paid. Now They're Ready to Play".The New York Times.Retrieved7 April2017.
- ^"The Crofoot and AEG Live present: GIRL TALK at Compuware Arena".Thecrofoot.com.Retrieved19 November2014.
- ^"89X Radio Presents: The World War III Tour featuring HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and ASKING ALEXANDRIA at Compuware Arena".Thecrofoot.com.Retrieved19 November2014.
- ^"PRETTY LIGHTS with TOKiMONSTA and PAUL BASIC at Compuware Arena".Thecrofoot.com.Retrieved19 November2014.
- ^"PASSION PIT with MATT AND KIM and ICONA POP at the Compuware Arena".Thecrofoot.com.Retrieved19 November2014.