Saskatoon·Photos

Saskatoon's last downtown arena

There has been a lot of talk about whether or not downtown should be the location of a sports arena in the future. CBC takes a look back at the last arena that called downtown home.

The Saskatoon Arena opened in 1937 and was demolished in 1989

CBC News · Posted: Apr 07, 2016 6:53 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 7, 2016

This photo from the Local History Room shows Saskatoon's original downtown arena. (Saskatoon Public Library, Local History Room)

There has been a lot of talk about a downtown arena in Saskatoon after Randy Fernets from Tourism Saskatoon appeared on CBC's Saskatoon Morning saying he would like to see a facility included in the City of Saskatoon's growth plan.

Although Will Lofdahl, CEO of SaskTel Centre, said there would have to be a lot of "homework" before conversations about that possibility even start, it hasn't stopped people from Saskatoon weighing in on what that would look like.

Many people are looking to Saskatoon's original downtown arena.

Photograph PH-88-834 by Dave Brown courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room

The Saskatoon Arena, also called "The Barn" opened in 1937. It was a wooden arena which looked over the South Saskatchewan River.

Photograph LH-5035 courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room 1975 (Saskatoon Public Library, Local History Room)

In this aerial view of south downtown it shows the arena located on 19th Street in 1975. In the foreground is the Folk's Furs building, a parking lot at the intersection of 20th Street East, and the AHEPA building.

Photograph LH-5538-A by Frederick Elmer Wait courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room 1940

Photograph PH-88-837 by Dave Brown courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room

On the opening day of the arena, the New York Rangers and New York Americans faced off. It later became the home of the Saskatoon Blades.

Photograph CP-4178-E by Creative Professional Photographers Collection courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room 1965

Photograph PH-88-839 by Dave Brown courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room

The last hockey game in the arena was in 1988. It was demolished in 1989.

Photograph PH-88-842 by Dave Brown courtesy Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room

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