Calgary Arena History: Victoria Arena

When Sherman Rink burnt down in 1915, Calgary was left without a major arena with which to host dances, horse shows, curling and ice hockey. Lloyd Turner hustled to get a temporary outdoor space built across the street, but World War I sidetracked efforts for a permanent solution.

But once the war ended, hockey found a new home in Calgary: the Victoria Arena.

Located roughly on the spot where the Scotiabank Saddledome currently sits – the east end of Victoria Park along the Elbow River, just north of the horse barns – Victoria Arena was part of the larger Victoria Pavilion, built originally as a horse pavilion and opened in May 1912. It was used as a staging and training area during World War…