Blackburn Arena (UK)



''This article is about the Blackburn Arena in the Great Britain. For the arena in Ottawa, Ontario, please see Blackburn Arena (Ottawa)''

Blackburn Arena is an Olympic size ice arena in Blackburn, United Kingdom and the home of Blackburn Hawks and Lancashire Raptors ice hockey clubs. The arena, which opened in 1991, holds 3,200 people and has an ice pad of 60m by 30m

The arena is owned by Peel Holdings, who purchased it from the original owners, Blackburn Council. Planning permission was granted at the time of building for an extra 1,000 or so seats at the back of the arena. It was built to coincide with Manchester's 1996 Olympic bid, with the possibility of boxing contests being held there. WCW (World Championship Wrestling) held a tour event there in 1992, and on the 26th November 1994 Rock band Status Quo held the only concert to date there from their Thirsty Work World Tour.

At Blackburn Arena there is a junior development for ice hockey. There are teams for under 10's, under 12's, under 14's, under 16's and under 18's. All these teams go under the name of Blackburn Junior Hawks.

The arena is open seven days a week for public ice skating sessions. It also offers a café and hockey shop.