Lakewood Arena

Lakewood Arena was a planned 7,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Bradenton, Florida. While preliminary construction had been done, developer DVA Sports had financial and technical problems preventing the completion of the arena. The arena was to be home to the Gulf Coast Swords ECHL ice hockey team. However, due to the years of delays, including an almost 2-year hiatus in construction, the ECHL terminated the Swords franchise in September 2006. As of November 2008, only 3 walls were standing and the property was foreclosed. DVA Sports managed to have foreclosure auctions postponed twice by making interest payments on their debt until 2009.
Arena foreclosure auction canceled for 2nd time, bradenton.com; retrieved November 14, 2008
==New Owners==
The uncompleted building was sold April 21, 2009 at foreclosure auction to Schroeder-Manatee Ranchone, one of the property's lien holders. SMR, who was the only bidder, paid $100.SMR buys unfinished hockey arena, bradenton.com; retrieved April 25, 2009
The current structure was torn down in November 2009.A final irony as hockey arena is demolished, bradenton.com; retrieved June 21, 2014
==References==
Category:ECHL arena
Category:Indoor ice hockey venues in Florida