The Zatzman Sportsplex is an arena located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It has been home to various junior, senior and minor & high school hockey teams. It co-hosted the 2004 World Women's Hockey Championships with the nearby Halifax Metro Centre. The arena is currently home to the Dartmouth Subways Major Midget team. The arena's capacity is 3,000 for hockey. and 3,500 for stage events. There is also a fitness centre and a swimming pool located at the Sportsplex. Former Hockey clubs & events at the sportsplex. Dartmouth Moosehead Mounties. senior hockey, Dartmouth Oland Exports from 1995-1998 of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.Dartmouth Destroyers of Canadian elite hockey senior league 2005-2006. Home of annual SEDHMA minor hockey international hockey tournament. Air Canada national midget championships in 1992. Fred Page Cup in 1996.
History
The site was formerly home to the Dartmouth Arena, which was built in 1950 and burned down on 16 May 1974. A sod-turning ceremony was held for the new Sportsplex in March 1981 by Dartmouth mayor Daniel Brownlow and Premier John Buchanan. It was constructed by Dineen Construction and cost $7 million. The Sportsplex opened in 1982.[1] A management agreement between the municipality and the Dartmouth Sportsplex Community Association was signed in 1998, and has been renewed every year since.[2]
The Dartmouth Sportsplex closed in early 2017 for a major renovation and expansion. A new double gymnasium and multi-purpose meeting rooms were added, while the fitness room was expanded. Most of the interior was revamped, except for the hockey arena.[3] The project was designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and local firm Abbott Brown.[4] Estimated in 2016 to cost $20 million, it ended up costing about $28 million.[3][4] The complex reopened in February 2019 as the Zatzman Sportsplex following a $750,000 donation from the Zatzman family in honour of the late Joseph Zatzman, businessman and former mayor of Dartmouth.[5]
Clubs and events hosted
- Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club
- Dartmouth Whalers Masters Swim Club
- Canada Winter Games - men's and women's ice hockey, February 11-27, 2011
- Dartmouth Major Midget 1982-
- Dartmouth Whalers Major Bantam 2013-
- Dartmouth High School (Nova Scotia) 2017-
- Metro Marauders Junior A hockey team, 2010–2013 (now Valley Wildcats)
- Nova Scotia Liberal Party leadership convention, April 2007
- Dartmouth Destroyers, Canadian Elite Hockey League, 2005-2006
- IIHF World Women's Championships, 2004 (co-hosted with Halifax Metro Centre)
- Emergency shelter, Operation Yellow Ribbon, 2001[6]
- Dartmouth Oland Exports, Maritime Junior Hockey League, 1995–1998
- Dartmouth Moosehead Mounties, 19??-????
- Fred Page Cup, 1996,
- Air Canada Cup, 1992
- Annual SEDHMA minor hockey tournament
- Various Musical Concerts
References
- ↑ (2000) In the Wake of the Alderney: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1750–2000. Dartmouth Historical Association. ISBN 0969664672.
- ↑ Final Report: Dartmouth Sportsplex, External Review of Business Case and Projections. Stantec (12 November 2013).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Dartmouth Sportsplex renos could cost more than $20M estimate", CBC News, 24 April 2017.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Diamond Schmitt and Abbott Brown complete Dartmouth’s Zatzman Sportsplex", Canadian Architect, 22 February 2019.
- ↑ "The Dartmouth Sportsplex has a new name: the Zatzman Sportsplex", The Star Halifax, 21 January 2019.
- ↑ "City looking into Dartmouth Sportsplex’s future", 3 October 2009.