Sudbury Wolves
Rink: Sudbury Arena
Capacity: 5,100
Built: 1951
League: OHL
City: Sudbury, Ontario
Home Of: Sudbury Wolves
Games Attended: 6
First Game: January 16, 2009 vs Brampton
Most Recent Game: April 3, 2025 vs Kingston
Unique Arena: #20
OHL Arena: #16
The Sudbury Community Arena is located in downtown Sudbury, just across the street from the train station. It has the honour (along with Kitchener) of being the oldest rink in the OHL as both were opened in 1951. While Kitchener still has the older feel, it has also undergone many renovations over the years to keep it up to date. Sudbury on the other had as seen fewer renos over the years, and in many ways it still feels like it could be the 1950s. With an arched roof like so many across Canada and a gorgeous art deco main lobby, you really feel like you’re going back in time.
Upon entering the main lobby, you are whisked up a small flight of stairs leading you to the main concourse at the top of the seating bowl, which is done up in Wolves blue, as are the two press boxes, one of which hangs in one end of the rink. The bowl is mostly 4 grandstands with small connections in the corners themselves. Many of the seats in the corners don’t actually face the ice surface itself and the transitions aren’t smooth, so some people have to get very cozy sitting next to each other.
When plans for a new rink at the east end of town were scrapped, a new more modern HD video scoreboard was installed but it almost seems too small with the massive and beautiful wooden roof above it.
There is another concourse underneath the seating at ice level which actually has most of the concession stands and main team store. While the team benches and dressing rooms are on opposite sides of the ice, only the visitors side is blocked off to fans entirely, so it’s not possible to walk all the way around under the seats. It was at one time, but it appears in recent years the visitor’s area has been blocked off entirely. Also, while Sudbury isn’t the only arena around to have benches on the opposite sides of the ice, it might be the only one left where the benches are mostly in the team’s defending zone. Talk about a long change in the 2nd period.
The team and rink really dive into the Wolves gimmick as back in the old days a leather lunged fan would howl like a wolf all game long. He isn’t around anymore, but the wolf howl is still heard several times a game over the PA, to the point its almost annoying but not too much to lose its charm. Also, famously the team has a stuffed wolf sitting up in the corner of the rafters that is wheeled out on a harness over the ice after Wolves goals. It used to be operated by hand but is now done electronically.
Sudbury Arena is a relic by today’s standards and mostly feels as old as it is. But at the same time, it has a ton of old barn charm that you just don’t get in new buildings today. Plans are underway for a new arena to be built on a now vacant lot next door, so if you haven’t been to a game here yet I highly suggest you go soon.
