Former names | Onondaga County War Memorial |
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Location | 800 South State Street Syracuse, New York, 13202 United States |
Coordinates | 43°2′41″N 76°8′54″W / 43.04472°N 76.14833°WCoordinates: 43°2′41″N 76°8′54″W / 43.04472°N 76.14833°W |
Owner | Onondaga County |
Operator | Onondaga County |
Capacity | 8,000 (floor events) 6,159 (hockey) |
Surface | Multi-surface |
Construction | |
Broke ground | October 22, 1949 |
Opened | September 12, 1951 |
Renovated | 1994 |
Construction cost | $3,719,000 ($34.3 million in 2017 dollars) |
Architect | Edgarton & Edgarton |
Structural engineer | Ammann & Whitney |
General contractor | W. E. O'Neil Construction Co. |
Tenants | |
Syracuse Warriors (AHL) (1951–1954) Syracuse Nationals (NBA) (1951–1963) Syracuse Eagles (AHL) (1974–1975) Syracuse Blazers (EHL/NAHL) (1967–1977) Syracuse Firebirds (AHL) (1979–1980) Syracuse Smash (NLL) (1997–2000) Syracuse Soldiers (AIFL) (2006) Syracuse Raging Bullz (ABA) (2007) Syracuse Crunch (AHL) (1994–present) Syracuse Silver Knights (MASL) (2011–present) |
The War Memorial Arena (originally known as Onondaga County War Memorial) is a multi-purpose arena located in Syracuse, New York. It is part of the Oncenter Complex. Designed by Edgarton and Edgarton and built from 1949 through 1951, the structure is significant as an example of a World War I, World War II and Aroostook War commemorative and as "an early and sophisticated example of single-span thin-shell concrete roof construction." It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The War Memorial Arena is home to the Syracuse Crunch ice hockey team and the Major Arena Soccer League team the Syracuse Silver Knights.
Previous teams to call the War Memorial home included the NBA's Syracuse Nationals, the NLL's Syracuse Smash and several now-defunct American Hockey League teams. The Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in a deciding seventh game at home to win the 1954–55 NBA Championship. The War Memorial also hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1961 and the NCAA Frozen Four in 1967 and 1971.
The 1977 film Slap Shot included the War Memorial among the various arenas used as shooting locations for in-game action.
The Onondaga County War Memorial was home to the annual NYSPHSAA wrestling tournament in 1968, from 1970 to 1972, and then for 29-straight years, 1974–2003. The championship event has since been hosted by various venues around the state.