Type Ice arena Capacity 3,200 Owner Altrincham Ice Dome | Blackburn Hawks
Blackburn Eagles
Lancashire Raptors 1991–
2012–
2007–2012 Opened 1991 Renovated 2005 | |
 | ||
Location Blackburn, Lancashire, England Field size 60 × 30 m (197 × 98 ft) Teams Blackburn Hawks, Lancashire Raptors Similar Blackburn Boulevard bus station, Altrincham Ice Dome, Entwistle railway station, Darwen railway station, Pleasington railway station | ||
Blackburn Arena is an Olympic size ice arena in Blackburn, England, and the home of Blackburn Hawks and Blackburn Eagles ice hockey clubs. The arena, which opened in January 1991, by Christopher Dean and Jane Torville, holds 3,200 people, and has an ice pad of 60 by 30 metres (197 by 98 ft). In 2005, the arena underwent an refurbishment.
The arena is owned by Peel Group, who purchased it from the original owners, Blackburn Council. In 1990, during construction, planning permission was granted, to build an extra 1,000 seats at the back of the arena. It was built to coincide with Manchester's 1996 Summer Olympic bid, with the possibility of boxing contests being held there.
In October 1993, WCW (World Championship Wrestling) held an tour event at the arena, as did the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) in March 1994, and on 26 November 1994, rock band Status Quo held the only concert to date there from their Thirsty Work World Tour.
At Blackburn Arena, there is a junior development for ice hockey. There are teams for under 10s, under 12s, under 14s, under 16s and under 18s. All these teams go under the name of Blackburn Junior Hawks. The arena is open seven days a week for public ice skating sessions. It also contains an Café, Figure Skating, and Hockey Shop.