Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Milton Memorial Arena
77 Thompson Road
Milton, ON L9T 6H7
Year Opened: 1975
Capacity: 500
A Junior Hockey Menace
The Milton Merchants were founded in 1966 and began as a Junior C team. Eventually, they moved up to Junior A and were very successful, winning championships in 1997 and 1998. The Merchants franchise continues today in the OJHL as the King Rebellion, however, the Merchants carved out a niche for Junior hockey in Milton. Jason Tryfon purchased the Newmarket Hurricanes franchise in 2019 and moved them to the Milton Memorial Arena to become the Milton Menace.
Located between Guelph and Toronto, Milton has been traditionally viewed as a commuter town. Today, the city boasts a population of over 132,000. The Menace calls the Milton Memorial Arena home. A classic hockey barn, the Memorial Arena opened in 1974 and has seating for 500, with more for those who want to stand. Although limited by some old bones, the Milton Menace has done just about everything possible to make it the best OJHL experience that the arena can provide.
Food & Beverage 3
The Milton Memorial Arena has a simple snack bar-style concession area. On the menu, fans can find hot dogs, nachos, pizza, chips, chicken wraps and popcorn. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, Gatorade, water, and soda are the beverage options. Coca-Cola products are the featured soda. Concession prices are very reasonable. A limited selection of beer is also available. On the day of the game that was reviewed, tallboys were available for $5.
Atmosphere 3
The Milton Memorial Arena has a very non-descript exterior. Fans should know where they are heading, as it would not be difficult to pass the arena and not know. The exterior features light brown brick and tan siding, and there is no sign on the building itself. A sign can be seen from the street and shared with the Lions Club Hall and Lions Sports Park, with four lines of manually changeable messages.
Inside the arena, fans are met with a small lobby on the southwest side of the arena. Temporary tables welcome fans with sales for tickets and the 50/50 draw. A small trophy case in the lobby is filled with Milton Menace merchandise and acts as a display. Past the lobby and into the arena area, it is immediately obvious that this is the home of the Milton Menace.
The outer side of the boards and the entire southwest end are painted black and gold with Menace markings. The ice is oriented from northeast to southwest, with the seating on the northwest side. The seating is made of eleven rows of wooden benches that are painted black. The arena interior has low profile support beams, painted a light colour, with silver insulation on the ceiling. Banners from the Milton Merchants championships, including Junior B titles from 1992 and Junior A championships from 1997 and 1998, hang at the northeast end of the rink.
A memorial banner from the Humboldt Broncos from 2018 also hangs on the northeast side. The Broncos played in a Junior A league that is a part of the CJHL, of which the OJHL is also a part. Although Humboldt, Saskatchewan, is far from Milton, the banner is a reminder of the kinship that binds Junior hockey franchises. A modern division banner from 2022 hangs above the Menace bench. A simple digital score clock also hangs at the northeast end.
The Menace offers a solid gameday experience. The experience starts with the Menace flag being skated around the ice by a local minor hockey player. There are plenty of on-ice promotions, probably more than other OJHL teams.
A favourite promotion is Mr. Glizzy’s Hot Dog Toss. It’s just like it sounds. The PA system at the Milton Memorial Arena is very good, and the Menace takes advantage of it with a variety of music being used during stoppages. The Menace also has a strong social media presence and makes use of electronic programs and gameday emails. They are a step ahead of other OJHL franchises.
Neighbourhood 3
Milton Memorial Arena is located in the Clarke neighbourhood of Milton. Right across the road is a large outdoor mall with a number of spots for food or drink. Most are national chains including East Side Mario’s, Hero Certified Burgers, Mary Brown’s and Shoeless Joes. Some more original options include Main Street Donuts, Milton Fish and Chips and Emma’s Kitchen.
As far as other sporting options, the Menace are pretty much the only game in town. However, it is central to other OJHL teams including the Georgetown Raiders, Mississauga Chargers, Oakville Blades and Burlington Cougars. Other tourist options include the FirstOntario Arts Centre, which is right across the parking lot from the arena, and Lions Park. For fans wishing to stay near the arena, the Holiday Inn is not too far away.
Fans 4
For the 2023 and 2024 seasons the Menace averaged around 370 fans per game. In 2023 that ranked them 6th in the OJHL, easily in the top third. Considering a small capacity of 500 at the Milton Memorial Arena, this is a pretty solid show of support. The fans in attendance are knowledgeable and supportive. At the game that was reviewed, it appeared that a Menace game is a bit of a teen hangout, which is not necessarily a positive. They definitely were notches on the turnstile, however, they were definitely not into the game and at times were disruptive to other fans.
Access 4
Milton Memorial Arena is located in the Clarke neighbourhood of Milton south of Highway 401. Along with Lions Park, the arena is found between Thompson Road South and Main Street East. It is less than 2 km from Highway 401, the main artery through Southern Ontario. Traffic on the 401 can be an issue, so extra time should be given when coming from out of town.
Parking on site is free. For those wishing to take public transit, there are Milton Transit buses that travel Thompson Road. Fans should consult the Milton Transit website for fares, schedules and maps. The Milton Memorial Arena is an older building so traversing it for people with mobility issues may be a bit of a challenge. The washroom facilities are also on the small side.
Return on Investment 5
Taking in a Menace game offers a terrific return on investment. Tickets for the Menace are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door. Seniors and children can get a ticket for $5 each and children seven and under are free. The Menace offer pretty much the cheapest ticket prices in the OJHL. Parking is free and concession prices are very good. In the end, the Menace is one of the most economical sporting options that fans could find and the product on the ice and gameday atmosphere are both solid.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the strong social media presence that the Menace have.
An extra mark for the Milton Menace making the most of their home rink, despite the limitations it offers.
An extra mark for the Menace branding with a cool logo and excellent black and gold colour scheme.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot that the Milton Menace are doing right. The Menace offer the best possible experience with the limitations of their older arena. A trip to the Milton Memorial Arena for some OJHL hockey will satisfy the sports fan while not denting the pocketbook.
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