"Kingston Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre" | |
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  Slush Puppie Place Location within Ontario Show map of Ontario Slush Puppie Place Location within Canada Show map of Canada | |
| Former names | K-Rock Centre (2008-2013) Rogers K-Rock Centre (2013-2018) Leon's Centre (2018-2024) |
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| Location | 1The Tragically Hip Way Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 44°14′00″N76°28′47″W / 44.2334°N 76.4797°W /44.2334; -76.4797 |
| Owner | City of Kingston |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 5,000 Concerts: 6,700 |
| Field size | 200' X 85' |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 28, 2006 |
| Opened | February 22, 2008 |
| Construction cost | C$46.5 million ($64 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects (BBB Architects) |
| Project manager | PMX, Inc. |
| Structural engineer | Halcrow Yolles |
| Services engineer | The Mitchell Partnership Inc. |
| General contractor | EllisDon |
| Tenants | |
| Kingston Frontenacs,2008–present | |
Slush Puppie Place (formerlyLeon's Centre) is a 5,000-seatindoor arena in downtownKingston, Ontario.[2] Opened in 2008 as theK-Rock Centre, it is the home of theKingston Frontenacs of theOntario Hockey League (OHL).
The arena was designed by Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects,[3] and was constructed byEllisDon Construction. It was built on city-owned land known as the "North Block", which at the time was being used as a parking lot. Anarchaeological dig of the area was necessary since the southeast portion of the site was the former location of part of the historicFort Frontenac. The remainingruins of the fort's northwestbastion is located directly across the street from the main entrance.
Thegroundbreaking ceremony took place July 28, 2006,[4] with construction beginning on November 3, 2006. On February 6, 2008, local radio stationCIKR-FM purchased thenaming rights to the arena for 10 years in a $3.3 million agreement, naming it the K-Rock Centre.[5]
In February 2012, Kingston City Council voted to rename the street on which the arena is located, formerly a part of Barrack Street, to The Tragically Hip Way in honour of Kingston bandThe Tragically Hip.[6]
In August 2013, the arena's name was amended to Rogers K-Rock Centre to reflectRogers Communications' current ownership of CIKR.[7] In 2018, the naming rights were sold to Chris McKercher—owner of the localLeon's franchise—renaming the arena to Leon's Centre. The five-year agreement was valued at $257,000 per-year.[8] In January 2024,J&J Snack Foods acquired the naming rights via itsSlush Puppie subsidiary, renaming the arena to Slush Puppie Place. The 15-year agreement is valued at around $2.2 million, and includes branding and concessions placements.[9]
TheKingston Frontenacs played their first game at the arena on February 22, 2008, losing 3–2 to their rivals, theBelleville Bulls. Kingston nativeDon Cherry performed the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game.[10]
Two days later, on February 24, 2008, the Frontenacs earned their first win at the arena, defeating thePeterborough Petes 7–4.[11]
The inaugural concert at the arena was performed by Kingston-basedThe Tragically Hip on February 23, 2008.[12] The arena has since hosted several concerts and entertainment events by artists includingElton John,Avril Lavigne,Neil Young,Cirque du Soleil,Deadmau5,Jerry Seinfeld,Bryan Adams,Bob Dylan,Willie Nelson,Carrie Underwood,Brooks & Dunn,Leonard Cohen,Reba McEntire,Billy Talent,Sting and hometown band,The Glorious Sons among many others.[12]
On August 20, 2016, The Tragically Hip played the final concert of theirMan Machine Poem Tour at the arena;[13][14] the tour was announced after it was made public that lead singerGord Downie had been diagnosed with terminalbrain cancer.[15] The concert was broadcast nationally by theCBC's radio, television, and digital platforms as the special presentationThe Tragically Hip: A National Celebration.[16] Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau was also in attendance.[14]
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The arena has hosted multipleCurling Canada championships, including the2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts,[17][18] and the2020 Tim Hortons Brier; its hosting of the latter marked the bicentennial anniversary of Kingston's first organized curling game.[19]
The arena hosted the2010 Skate Canada International[20] and the2015 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.[21]
The Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame is located inside Slush Puppie Place. The hall of fame honors any athlete or "builder of sport" (such as a coach) who has contributed meaningfully to sports in Kingston. Athletes must be retired from the sport for which they are nominated for at least three years or be older than 50. Builders are eligible at any time.[22] The hall officially opened in 1996, and in 2008, it moved into Slush Puppie Place.[23]
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