The Garden City Arena Complex (formerly the Gatorade Garden City Complex) was a sports complex in

St. Catharines St. Catharines is the most populous city in Canada's Niagara Region, the eighth largest urban area in the province of Ontario. As of 2021, St. Catharines has an area of and 136,803 residents. It lies in Southern Ontario, south of Toronto ac ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. It was the main arena facility in that city from its construction in 1938 until the opening of the

Meridian Centre The Meridian Centre is a 5,300 seat arena in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, located at 1 David S. Howes Way. The arena is the home of the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite ...

in 2014. The complex housed two arena pads - the Jack Gatecliff Arena, which was home to the

Niagara IceDogs The Niagara IceDogs are a Canadian Hockey League, major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in St. Catharines, Ontario, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was originally known as the Mississauga IceDogs and found ...

from the 2007–2008 to the 2013–2014 seasons, and the smaller Rex Stimers Arena. The original section was constructed in 1938, and was named the Garden City Arena. The facility was later named after local sportswriter

Jack Gatecliff Jack Gatecliff (April 20, 1926 – September 5, 2000) was a Canadian sports journalist, ice hockey and lacrosse player. He was awarded the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995. He is also an inducted member of the St ...

after extensive renovations in 1996, that combined the Garden City Arena and Rex Stimers Arena into a single building. The smaller arena was named for Rex Stimers, a popular sportscaster with local radio station

CKTB CKTB (610 AM, "610 CKTB") is a radio station licensed to St. Catharines, Ontario. Owned by Whiteoaks Communications Group, it broadcasts a talk radio format serving the Niagara Region. Its studios are on Yates Street in downtown St. Catharin ...

for a period of 32 years beginning in 1934. The complex was renamed the Gatorade Garden City Complex on September 19, 2007, after the naming rights were sold to

Gatorade Gatorade is an American brand of sports-themed beverage and food products, built around its signature line of sports drinks. The drink is owned and manufactured by PepsiCo and is distributed in over 80 countries. The beverage was develope ...

. Upon the expiry of the naming agreement, the complex was renamed the Garden City Arena Complex. The final capacity of the Jack Gatecliff Arena was 3,145, including standing room. Seating capacity in the Rex Stimers Arena was 800 seats. The arena was previously home to the

of the OHL, as well as the St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons of the

Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada. The league is c ...

. The Niagara Icedogs moved into the new

for the 2014–15 season. Upon the arenas closure in 2022 the Falcons moved into the already existing Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre for the 2022–23 season. From 1982 to 1986 it was home to

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

farm team the

St. Catharines Saints The St. Catharines Saints was a minor league ice hockey team in St. Catharines, Ontario. It played in the American Hockey League from 1982 to 1986 as the farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs. History The Moncton-based New Brunswick Hawks had been ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

. Demolition of the building began in July 2023 with the rex stimers arena being demolished first. Demolition was completed in September of 2023 and the use of the land is currently unknown at this time.

References

External links

Niagara Ice Dogs
Official website
St. Catharines Falcons
{{St. Catharines Indoor arenas in Ontario Ice hockey venues in Ontario Ontario Hockey League arenas Sports venues in St. Catharines PepsiCo buildings and structures Gatorade St. Catharines Saints