#1 Chicago Stadium - Chicago Blackhawks
Built 1929 Closed 1994
Capacity 17,313 (1993)
Built 1929 Closed 1994
Capacity 17,313 (1993)
This was likely the best hockey arena ever constructed. The amazing thing about Chicago Stadium to me was its size. It had a seating capacity of 17,313 when it closed and was never expanded or had its seating bowl significantly modified. If it were still being used today it would have a larger capacity than 4 current NHL arenas. The other impressive aspect of Chicago Stadium is the cantilevering of the balconies and lack of obstructed views compared to other arenas of the time. Though there were a few posts on the ends, the vast majority of seats had outstanding, intimate views of the ice surface. It was also the loudest building in the NHL and had one of the largest pipe organs ever built. One of the few shortfalls of this arena was the size of the rink itself, 185 x 80.
#2 Olympia Stadium - Detroit Red Wings
Built 1927, Expanded 1965, Closed 1980
Capacity 11,500 (1927) 14,063 (1964) 16,375 w/SRO (1979)
This is my favorite of the original six arenas (as a Red Wings fan), though it wasn't better than Chicago Stadium as a hockey arena. The balcony was slung right over this ice like in Boston and Chicago, so the views from the upper level seating were tremendous. This arena was also a forerunner in value added seating, as a level of "Wing-Hi Boxes" was constructed above the balcony in the 1970's and club seating arrangements and restaurants were available at the Olympia before they were mainstream. The main Grand River Avenue entrance was not ornate, but classic nonetheless. Obstructed views were an issue, but were not as severe as at Boston Garden. The 1965 addition meshed seamlessly with the original construction on the inside, but looked atrocious from the outside.
#3 Maple Leaf Gardens - Toronto Maple Leafs
Built 1931 Closed 1999
Capacity 13,542 (1931) 15,728 (1995)
This arena looks so good from the outside, they made it into a trophy (Conn Smythe). With ornate brickwork and a vaulted roof, this was the one of the most handsome looking arena exteriors ever designed. The interior seating arrangement was not overwhelming however. As constructed, the Gardens did not have a balcony, rather one monolithic square/octagonal shaped seating bowl. Balconies were added later to the ends of the arena. This design led to very few obstructed views and a large portion of seating positioned along the side boards, which was good. However, seating in the back rows were farther away than in any other original six building.
#4 The Forum - Montreal Canadiens
Built 1924, Expanded 1949, Renovated 1968, Closed 1996
Capacity 9,300 (1924) 15,500 (1949) 16,197 + 1,600 SRO (1993)
This arena had more hockey history than any other on this list, hosting 25 Stanley Cup Champion teams (23 for the Canadiens and 2 for the Maroons). The arena itself was a fairly basic seating bowl all around the rink, with smallish seating balconies added on each end of the arena. Suite balconies were also added above the seating bowl along the sides of the arena. There were several view obstructing roof support columns in the building in the seating bowl running parallel to the side boards until the 1968 renovation. Viewing was aided by a rather steep pitch to the seating bowl around the ice.
#5 Boston Garden - Boston Bruins
Built 1928 Closed 1995
Capacity 13,909
Someone will disagree with my assessment of Boston Garden, but it was very easy to put Boston Garden this low on the list. It was a historic, intimate building, with some very good seats. It is also the only arena I know of that had terraced seating going around the corners and ends in both the lower and upper bowls. Olympia Stadium also had this, but only in the lower bowl. This terracing helped in viewing sightlines for boxing, so you could see over the section next to you toward the ring in the middle of the floor. However, this building had so many ludicrous obstructed views particularly along the side boards tucked under the low slung balcony, that viewing was quite poor for many in the arena, particularly in the back corners of the lower bowl. It was also not a particularly well maintained arena later in its life, with dingy rafters, lack of air conditioning, and a notorious electrical system that cost the Bruins a home Stanley Cup Finals game in 1988.
#6 Madison Square Garden III - New York Rangers
Built 1925 Closed 1968
Capacity 15,925
There are very few pictures of Madison Square Garden III available. However, everything I have read and seen of MSG III indicates that it was a very poor hockey arena. It had three seating levels, but the balcony suffered from the same affliction that America West Arena had when the Phoenix Coyotes moved from Winnipeg. The upper end balconies had no view of the closest goal because the seating was too high above and too close to the ice that the goal was underneath the spectator's line of site. MSG III was much better suited for boxing and basketball than it was for hockey. MSG IV is not without its detractors, but at least the entire rink is viewable.
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