Essex Memorial Arena The Essex Memorial Arena is an ice - hockey arena in Essex , Ontario , Canada . It was constructed in 1960 - 1961 , and served as the home court for the Essex 73 ' s of the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League from 1973 – 2009 . During that time the 73 ' s won 16 Great Lakes League Championships and a Provincial record 6 All Ontario Titles , The 2008 – 2009 season was to be the final year for the 73 ' s at the Essex Memorial Arena and in that year the 73 ' s captured the All Ontario crown finishing with a perfect 31 - 0 record in the Arena . The Arena will remain open for Essex Minor Hockey . A replacement arena was completed in September 2009 . History . The first records mentioning the potential of an artificial rink for Essex are from the mid 1950s . The idea grew and by March 1956 the Parks Board created an Arena Committee , which it named the " Essex Memorial Arena Campaign Committee " , and appointed members from the Essex Rotary Club , the Royal Canadian Legion , and the Kinsmen Club of Essex . The Kinsmen Club of Essex were the first to initiate a challenge to the town to raise $ 50 , 000 . The name of the arena was one of the first issues addressed . It was decided that it would be called Essex Memorial Arena as a way to honour the men who had fought and died in World War I and World War II . Indoor or outdoor arena ? The first arena proposed by the committee was an outdoor arena . An outdoor arena could only function from December 1 to April 15 . Its design was so a roof could be easily added . The committee soon changed the original proposal from an outdoor arena to a closed arena due to economic benefits . It was $ 15 , 000 more expensive for the freezing equipment for an outdoor rink than for an indoor rink , and the utility cost for the outdoor rink would have been much higher . Another bonus to having an indoor rink was the longer skating season ; 6 months compared to 4½ . With 10 , 000 people in the area surrounding Essex it would not take long before the arena would pay for itself . Completing the construction . The Essex community was not completely supportive of the arena building project . They feared the arena would increase water rates in town , and that the arena was an unsafe structure . By the fi nal stages of construction funds were drying up and $ 100 , 000 would be needed to complete it . Many felt that the project was just too big for the town . On June 19 , 1961 the town went to the polls to settle the issue , voting 551 to 392 in favour of the arena loan . The loan was obtained and the building was completed within the year . The walls were made of 12 ” ( 30 . 5 cm ) thick reinforced masonry blocks . The roof is supported by eleven trusses . The arena has heated dressing rooms , a canteen and 1054 seats . It took roughly 937 days to fully complete the arena . The Essex Memorial Arena Campaign Committee was then dissolved and the town took control and created an Arena Commission . The arena officially opened on November 25 , 1961 . Essex Memorial Arena to Remain Open until 2014 . August 2011 it was passed by the Essex Town council and LakeShore Town council that the Essex Memorial Arena would remain open for 3 more hockey seasons . Roof repairs needed to be done to the Old Arena , once completed the Arena will be used until at least 2014 .