Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Algoma Central Arena @ Canada Games Park
2021 Canada Games Way
Thorold, ON L2V 4Y8
Year Opened: 2021
Capacity: 1,200
Canada Games Athletics
The deep history of lacrosse in Ontario stretches into the Niagara Region with the St. Catharines Athletics. Playing at the “Junior A” level in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League, the Athletics were founded as a lacrosse organization in 1877. The Athletics played under different monikers over time: the Teepees in 1954; Norsemen from 1955 to 56; Supertests from 1964 to 1966; Lakesides from 1967 to 1971; and Legionaires from 1972 to 1977.
They have been known as the Athletics intermittently throughout and in the latest iteration which began in 1982. The Athletics have enjoyed tremendous success earning six Minto Cups as Junior A lacrosse National Champions. The Athletics have also earned the Iroquois Trophy as Ontario Champions 10 times.
With the Niagara Region hosting the Canada Games in 2022, the Athletics took advantage of a significant investment in the community and found a new home at Canada Games Park. A unique consortium consisting of the Niagara Region, the City of St. Catharines, and Brock University, built the brand-new, shiny facility and maintains ownership.
At Canada Games Park, the Athletics play in the Algoma Central Arena, which is located inside the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre. Previous to this, the Athletics played at the Garden City Arena. Canada Games Park features facilities for lacrosse, hockey, track and field, beach volleyball, and soccer as well as numerous gymnasiums, a fitness centre, an indoor track, and numerous meeting rooms.
Food & Beverage 3
The concession options inside the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre are limited and serve not just the Algoma Central Arena but the entire centre. The concession stand is located just outside of the Algoma Central Arena and features typical snack bar wares. Hot Dogs, grilled cheese, popcorn, chips, candy, and fruit are on the menu. Soda, water, various coffee products, and Gatorade are all available. Coors Original and Coors Light are for sale both at the concession stand and under a tent inside Algoma Central Arena. For the game reviewed, there was a butter tart tent also in the arena.
Atmosphere 4
Canada Games Park is a large property with both indoor and outdoor facilities. The indoor facilities are found within the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre, which is a low-profile, sleek building featuring plenty of glass and a dark gray siding fascia. The green grass on the roof is evident as part of the environmental design of the building. Inside the facility, the vastness is evident immediately.
The most prolific of the indoor facilities is the Algoma Central Arena, which is the main arena for both hockey and lacrosse and supports a capacity of 1,200 fans. Algoma Central Arena is on the west side of the building and fans will enter from the south end of the arena.
Inside the arena, an aura of newness and cleanliness prevails. The arena floor runs from north to south with all of the seating found on the west side. Grey, plastic arena seats offer fans a degree of comfort not found in many buildings in this league. The floor on the south end is raised higher than the arena floor. The east side features metallic grating which gives the arena a fresh and clean look. Banners for the 1947, 1950, 1990, 1991, 2001, and 2003 Minto Cups hang proudly in the northeast corner of the arena.
A simple scoreboard hangs above the centre of the arena floor. Perhaps the best feature of the arena is that the Athletics play on field turf for their games rather than the polished concrete found in so many other facilities. The turf not only offers a superior aesthetic, but it provides a better bounce for the ball and overall a better facility to play in.
The gameday production at an Athletics game is very simple. The PA system is brand new and crystal clear and the announcer is excellent. The program draws are the main promotion and fans are not overloaded with promos or advertisements. A simple plus is the scoreboard tracking shots on goal.
Neighbourhood 4
Canada Games Park is located at the north end of the City of Thorold, immediately south of St. Catharines and part of what is considered the Niagara Region. There are some spots for fans to get a pre or post-game meal. These include In Piazza, Cracker Jack’s, and the Overtime Pub. For fans looking for other sporting experiences, Algoma Central Arena is shared by the Brock Badgers hockey team, however their schedules do not overlap.
The Badgers also field other teams on campus including basketball. The nearby Meridian Centre in St. Catharines is the home of the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs and CEBL’s Niagara River Lions. It is a very short drive for fans to get to Niagara Falls, which has a plethora of tourist options including the horseshoe falls themselves. This is a must-see for fans new to the area. Hiking on the nearby Bruce Trail may also be of interest. For fans wishing to stay near Canada Games Park, the Four Points Sheraton is right there.
Fans 3
It is difficult to assess St. Catharines Athletics fans as the OJLL does not publish attendance figures. At the regular season game that was reviewed, there was a strong crowd that was more than the “friends and family” attendance figure. The fans in attendance were fairly quiet and laid back.
Access 5
Canada Games Park is located on the north side of Thorold, immediately south of St. Catharines. It is surrounded by Lake Moodie to the east of Merrittville Highway and Isaac Brock Blvd. Getting to Canada Games Park is very easy. Highway 406 is due east of Canada Games Park and is the main north-south artery for the region. There is free parking on site and enough that finding a spot should not be an issue.
For fans wishing to take public transit, some buses run along both Merrittville Highway and Isaac Brock Blvd. Fans should check the Niagara Region Transit website for fares, schedules, and maps. With its modern design, traversing the Algoma Central Arena and Walker Sports and Abilities Centre is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate for the facility.
Return on Investment 5
The return on investment for OJLL lacrosse is tremendous. Athletics tickets are available for $10 with some senior and student discounts possible. Parking is free and concessions are not over the top. Fans will not be bombarded with too much in the way of promotions as the gameday production is very simple. The action on the floor is top notch and many OJLL players play college lacrosse and are eventually drafted into the National Lacrosse League.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the history of the St. Catharines Athletics, which dates back to 1877.
An extra mark for the Athletics Alumni which includes lacrosse royalty including former and current NLL players Mark Steenhuis, Matt Vinc, Craig Conn, Billy Dee Smith, and current head coach Steve Toll.
Final Thoughts
Junior A lacrosse represents tremendous value for the sports fan in the summer months. Catching a St. Catharines Athletics game not only allows fans to see very high-level lacrosse, the fastest game on two feet but to take in a first-class, brand-new facility unlike any other in the OJLL. Catching a game at Algoma Central Arena @ Canada Games Park is definitely worth it.
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