Harringay Arena Harringay Arena was a sporting and events venue on Green Lanes in Harringay , North London , England . Built in 1936 , it lasted as a venue until 1958 . Construction . The Arena was built and owned by Brigadier - General Alfred Critchley under the auspices of his private company , the " Greyhound Racing Association Trust Ltd " ( GRA ) . A new company , " Harringay Arena Limited " , whose directors were also directors of the GRA , was incorporated in 1929 to build and manage the venue . The company raised funds for the venture via a stock and share issue in January 1936 . Designed by Dr . Oscar Faber , the Arena was a stark modernist octagonal - shaped building which borrowed heavily from the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto . It was erected adjacent to the Harringay Stadium in just eight months between February and October 1936 . Its vast steel roof was constructed by Dorman Long & Co who had recently been responsible for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and completed the new Wembley Stadium in 2007 . It had a seating capacity of almost 10 , 000 for ice hockey and slightly more for boxing . The actual arena was 198 ft . long by 88 ft . wide . A removable maple floor could be laid over the ice for non - sporting events . This arrangement clearly proved troublesome . At an event shortly after its opening the " Daily Herald " reported that " claims that Harringay had solved its cold - feet problem were not quite substantiated . Cold air from the ice below the boards filtered through " . Sports venue . Specifically designed as an ice hockey venue , it quickly became famous as a venue for both ice hockey and boxing . Up to the Second World War , ice hockey enjoyed its most popular era in the UK until a revival in the 1990s . Two local teams were formed for the Arena ' s opening , Harringay Racers and Harringay Greyhounds . However , the interruption of the war proved very damaging to the sport ' s popularity and post - war audiences remained thin for the remainder of the Arena ' s life . Decline & fall . Despite running an impressive and broad ranging calendar of events from 1947 to 1958 , the change in the fortunes of ice hockey in the UK and the straitened post - war circumstances meant limited commercial success for the Arena after the Second World War . The Arena hosted its final event on Tuesday , 28 October 1958 . It was a sentimental occasion and promoter Jack Solomons headlined with a world class lightweight fight between Dave Charnley and Carlos Ortiz ( who was to go on to become world champion ) . This is how The Times reported it : Behind the scenes moves for the Arena ' s disposal had been going on for some time . International food retailer and manufacturer , Home & Colonial Stores Ltd were offered the site in 1957 . They took possession of the building and the adjacent market hall in 1958 . Works to convert the Arena to its new use were complete by February 1960 . It was henceforth put to use as a food storage facility for the next 20 years until its demolition in 1978 . Through the early 1980s an open air Sunday market was held on the site up until the site was developed for shopping . The initial development included principally warehouse style shopping including DIY , bathroom and food wholesale outlets . A Royal Mail sorting facility was also built which survived the later redevelopment . Early in the 21st Century the whole site was redeveloped for retail shopping as the Arena Shopping Park .