Editing Windsor Arena

{{short description|Indoor arena in Windsor, Ontario}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name         = Windsor Arena
| nickname = ''The Barn''<br />''Madhouse on McDougall''
| image                = Windsor Arena the old Barn home of Spitfires.jpg
| image_size           = 225px
| location             = 334 Wyandotte Street East, [[Windsor, Ontario]]
| coordinates          = {{Coord|42|18|58|N|83|1|56|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground         = 
| opened               = 1924
| closed               = 2013
| owner                = City of Windsor
| construction_cost    = 
| architect            = 
| former_names         = Border Cities Arena
| tenants              = Windsor Minor Hockey Association (1924–2013)<br />[[Detroit Red Wings|Detroit Cougars]] ([[National Hockey League|NHL]]) (1926–1927)<br />[[Windsor Bulldogs]] ([[OHA Senior A League (1890–1979)|OHA Senior A]]/[[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL]]) (1953–1965)<br />[[Windsor Spitfires]] ([[Ontario Hockey League|OHL]]) (1975–2008)<br />[[Windsor Lancers]] ([[Ontario University Athletics|OUA]]) (2008–2013)
| seating_capacity     = [[Ice hockey]]: 4,400<br />[[Concerts]]: 6,264
}}

'''Windsor Arena''' (nicknamed '''The Barn''') is an [[list of indoor arenas|indoor arena]] located in [[Windsor, Ontario]]. Its capacity is approximately 4,400 with standing room. The arena's ice is {{convert|80|ft|m}} by {{convert|195|ft|m}} or {{convert|15600|sqft|m2}}. The arena was the home of the [[Windsor Spitfires]] of the [[Ontario Hockey League]] from 1975 to 2008, at which time the team's home was moved to the [[WFCU Centre]].

== History ==
[[File:Windsor Arena banners 2012.JPG|left|225px|thumbnail|Spitfires old banners (in 2012) still hanging in The Barn.  Includes [[Mickey Renaud]], 1988 OHL Championship banner, [[Adam Graves]], etc.]]
Originally named the '''Border Cities Arena''', it hosted the [[Detroit Red Wings|Detroit Cougars]] (later renamed the Detroit Red Wings) for the 1926-1927 [[National Hockey League|NHL]] season, while the [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]] was under construction. The Border Cities Arena, built in 1925 for the local junior hockey team, was expanded from 6,000 to 9,000 for the Cougars. The arena was later renamed the Windsor Arena.

Having been constructed in 1924, the arena is among the oldest of its type in [[North America]].

In 2006, the WFCU Centre, located in the city's east side off Lauzon Road, was approved by the Windsor city council. The decision to replace the arena is attributed to complaints about Windsor Arena's seating and tiny concourses.

The Spitfires' final game at the Windsor Arena was played on December 4, 2008. Windsor beat the [[Guelph Storm]] 2-1, giving the Spitfires a perfect 12-0 record at The Barn for the 2008-09 season.

From 2009 until 2013, the [[University of Windsor]] [[Windsor Lancers|Lancers]] hockey teams took over as the major tenants of the arena.
Also, the Windsor Minor Hockey Association used this arena for games until 2013.

In February 2014, the arena was used as a site for salt storage.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/city-stockpiling-3-500-tonnes-of-salt-in-windsor-arena-1.2537795| title = City stockpiling 3,500 tonnes of salt in Windsor Arena {{!}} CBC News}}</ref> I In April 2014, [[Catholic Central High School (Windsor, Ontario)|Catholic Central High School]] proposed a plan to construct a new school on the site, with the full demolition of Windsor Arena being part of the plan without any emphasis.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2014/04/01/board-recommends-building-25-million-downtown-catholic-central-high-school/ |title = Home {{!}} Windsor Star}}</ref> The City of Windsor approved the plan to build the new Catholic Central High School on the site, but the plans never came to fruition and the school was constructed elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/new-catholic-central-funding-1.3829052| title = Board gets nod for new $26M replacement for Catholic Central {{!}} CBC News}}</ref>

[[File:Windsor Arena panoramic 2012.JPG|thumbnail|center|600px|Panoramic view inside arena during [[Windsor Lancers]] men's hockey team playoff game, February 16, 2012. (click to enlarge)]]

== References ==
{{commons category|Windsor Arena}}
<references />

== External links ==
[[Image:Windsor Arena November 2008.jpg|225px|left|thumbnail|The Barn on November 3, 2008.  [[Windsor Spitfires]] and [[Oshawa Generals]] face-off to open third period.]]
[[Image:Windsor Arena interior.jpg|thumb|225px|Windsor Arena interior.]]
*"Famous Canadian Arenas" exhibit at the National Library of Canada's ''Virtual Museum of Canada'' exhibit. [http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Hockey/English/Arenas/windsor.html "Windsor Arena"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140403114523/http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2014/04/01/board-recommends-building-25-million-downtown-catholic-central-high-school/ Board recommends building $25-million downtown Catholic Central high school]
* [https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/catholic-school-board-to-continue-to-push-for-new-catholic-central-at-arena-site Catholic school board to continue to push for new Catholic Central at arena site]

{{S-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Detroit Red Wings|Detroit Cougars]]
 | years = 1926–1927
 | before = first arena
 | after = [[Olympia Stadium]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Windsor Spitfires]]
 | years = 1975–2008
 | before = first arena
 | after = [[WFCU Centre]]
}}
{{end}}

{{Detroit Red Wings}}
{{Former NHL arenas}}

[[Category:1924 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Boxing venues in Ontario]]
[[Category:Defunct indoor arenas in Canada]]
[[Category:Defunct National Hockey League venues]]
[[Category:Detroit Red Wings]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario Hockey League arenas]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1924]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Windsor, Ontario]]