| Erie Insurance Arena | |
|---|---|
| Civic Center | |
| |
| Location | 809 French Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16501 |
| Broke ground | September 1981 |
| Opened | June 7, 1983 |
| Owner | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Construction cost | $9.3 million |
| Tenants | Erie Otters (OHL) 1996-present Erie RiverRats (American Indoor Football Association) 2008-present Erie BayHawks (NBA Development League) 2008-present Erie Freeze (AIFA) 2005-2007 Erie Panthers (ECHL) 1988-1996 |
| Capacity | 5,524 (Hockey) 5,586 (Arena football) 7,938 (Concert) |
The Erie Insurance Arena (known as Louis J. Tullio Arena prior to May, 2012) is a 5,586-seat multi-purpose arena in Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States. It was built in 1983 as part of the Erie Civic Center complex, which also includes the Warner Theatre and Jerry Uht Park. It is home to the Erie Otters ice hockey team, the Erie RiverRats indoor football team, and the Erie BayHawks basketball team. The arena is named after former Erie mayor Louis J. Tullio.
The arena is also known as one of the loudest places to play throughout the Ontario Hockey League. This is due to the large amount of bare concrete and lack of sound dampening panels. It was also the proposed location of the 2002 Memorial Cup, however it was not chosen to host the event. The arena is in talks of being renovated. If construction begins soon, the arena could be finished in two years. Upgrades would include more seating, making the front parking lot a park and an ice skating ring, and a deck on the side of the arena overlooking Jerry Uht Park.