# Clarence-Rockland Arena

Clarence-Rockland Arena (French: Aréna de Clarence-Rockland) formerly known as CIH Arena, is a multi-purpose arena located in Rockland, Ontario, Canada. Opened on August 25, 2011, the facility features two rinks, with its main one the home of the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). It is owned by the City of Clarence-Rockland, and is managed by the Rockland Nationals staff.
With a capacity of 2,500 in its hockey configuration, Clarence-Rockland Arena is the second biggest arena of the CCHL after the Cornwall Civic Complex. Alongside hockey, Clarence-Rockland Arena has hosted concerts, and occasional theatre. Since it owns a team in 2017, it has consistently been listed as one of the league's busiest arenas, usually receiving higher attendance numbers compared to any other arenas in the league.

## History

The facility was opened on August 25, 2011 as the Canadian International Hockey Academy (CIH) Arena. It was previously the home of the Clarence Castors, a former Junior B team in the National Capital Junior Hockey League.
In late September 2016, Paul Jennings sold the Gloucester Rangers to a group of partners being André Chaput, André Charlebois & Amélie Lecompte, Jean-Robert Léger and Robert Bourdeau. Paul Jennings purchased the Orleans Blues franchise from Chaput in 2007. The Gloucester Rangers finished the 2016–17 season and relocated to the 2,500-seat arena to become the Rockland Nationals after playing at the aging Earl Armstrong for nearly 50 years.
The arena hosted played their inaugural home opener on September 8, 2017 and won the game 3–1 against their regional rival Navan Grads with an attendance of 1,200.
On September 7, 2018, a franchise record crowd of 1,500 fans attended the 2018–19 Rockland Nationals home opener as the Nats invited former Ottawa Senators legend Chris Neil and Ryan Dzingel to make ceremonial puck drop before the game. Rockland was able to pull a 4–1 win over the Navan Grads.
On May 16, 2022 during an employee meeting, the Clarence-Rockland council approved a resolution to sign an agreement with the CIH Academy to take over the management of the building. The arena has been managed by the CIHA since it opened in 2011, but effective August 1, 2022, Clarence-Rockland took over operations of the arena.
On September 8, 2024, the Nationals won the first edition of the RE/MAX Cup against their rival Hawkesbury Hawks when the Clarence-Rockland Arena hosted the 3-day tournament.

## Arena information

The building covers an area of 1.290 hectares (3.19 acres) (11,290 square metres (121,500 sq ft)). The main rink has a seating capacity of 2,500, making it the second largest arena in the CCHL. It also holds a second rink and a community room, with both have a capacity for 110 people.
Capacities of the main arena are:
* Hockey: 2,500
* Concerts: 5,600
* Amphitheatre: 4,800
* Theatre: 1,800
A new scoreboard was installed prior to the 2022–2023 season, and a goal horn was installed in March of 2024.
It is one of the only two arenas that uses a realistic goal horn; the other one being the Navan Grads. All the 10 other CCHL teams uses an NHL goal horn recording via a computer, which is sounded by the team's DJ. The horn is a Nathan Airchime K3LA, which is a realistic train horn used by several diesel trains in North America.