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Hockey History Lawfield Arena opens in 1975 after three years of study
and deliberation
By 1970 Hamilton needed local arenas and skating facilities for it citizens on the Mountain, which was experiencing the highest population growth of the city. In 1972, a proposal was brought before the city for a twin-rink arena at the corner of Upper Ottawa Street and Stone Church Road. This proposed rink was one of five “multi-centers” to be built on the Mountain to provide these local services and activities. The city’s planning committee was considering facilities on Stone Church at the intersections of Upper Ottawa, Upper Sherman, Upper Wellington, West Fifth, and Paradise Road. The proposed locations were interesting at the time, considering the following quote from a December 1972 Spectator report: “None of these north-south streets will connect with the proposed Mountain Freeway to be built near Limeridge Road.” One party that was interested in a new hockey facility was Hamilton Red Wings owner Nick Durbano, who was hoping for a 3500-seat rink in the Upper Ottawa-Stonchurch location for his 1974-75 Major Junior A club to play in. By May of 1973 the five sites were down to two, one proposal at the eastern end of Mohawk Road in the Bernie Arbour sports complex and the other in the Lawfield neighborhood. The city was opting for the Lawfield site. “City planners are now recommending a site
in the Lawfield neighborhood could be preferable because it is
closer to existing subdivisions,” mentioned a story in the
May 19, 1973 Spectator. But then Hamilton Alderman Ian Stout was pushing the Bernie Arbour site, and was championing for the eastern Mountain location. His main concern was traffic congestion at the other proposed site. Stout lost his support for his preference at a July 31 1973 city council meeting as council decided to follow the recommendations of the recreation and planning committees and establish Lawfield as the site. By February of 1974 the architectural firm of McIntosh and Moellar had been hired for the new facility, which was to be similar to the Rosedale Arena and cost around $800,000. Only two months later another $106,000 was deemed necessary to continue with the new arena, to be built on an eight-acre site on Folkstone Road in the Lawfield neighborhood. But Stout continued with his campaign, and expressed his displeasure with the increase in costs. “A lot of screwing around delayed this thing,” he was quoted as saying late in April of 1974. “We had Ontario Municipal Board approval for the project in 1972,” adding the location delay had added 15 percent to the cost. And the costs did continue to escalate. By September of 1974 the original $800,000 figure had climbed to over $1 million, a 25 percent increase in five months. But the Lawfield Arena was built, and on November 24, 1975, opening ceremonies were held for the center, which featured a year-round ice surface, tennis courts, and community rooms. Other activities along with hockey for Lawfield included figure skating sessions and ringette competitions. By the early 1980s the arena needed new flooring, and all the in-floor piping as well as boarding had to be replaced, inconveniencing many minor sporting groups until early in 1983 when the facility reopened. Lawfield has the
honor of being the warmest rink in Hamilton for those sitting in
its seats. “At the same time that Eastwood’s bleachers were nearly empty due to the unrelenting chill, Lawfield’s were full,” wrote Radley. “Fans with their coats unwrapped and gloves stuffed into their pockets looked completely comfortable. Nobody has to keep active to stay warm. At Lawfield, coffee is an enjoyable drink, not a survival tool.”
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