Slush Puppie Place

 

Construction of Slush Puppie Place, then known as Kingston Sports and Entertainment Centre; January 2008

 

Exterior of Slush Puppie Place in February 2010, then K-Rock Centre

 

Exterior of Slush Puppie Place in July 2021, then Leon's Centre

The arena was designed by Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects,^[2] and was constructed by EllisDon Construction. It was built on city-owned land known as the "North Block", which at the time was being used as a parking lot. An archaeological dig of the area was necessary since the southeast portion of the site was the former location of part of the historic Fort Frontenac. The remaining ruins of the fort's northwest bastion is located directly across the street from the main entrance.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place July 28, 2006,^[3] with construction beginning on November 3, 2006. On February 6, 2008, local radio station CIKR-FM (K-Rock) purchased the naming rights to the arena for 10 years at $3.3 million.^[4] After Rogers Communications acquired ownership of CIKR-FM, the arena was officially renamed Rogers K-Rock Centre on August 14, 2013.^[5]

In 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 band The Tragically Hip.^[6]

In 2018, furniture store chain Leon's, represented by the owner of its local location, acquired the naming rights under a 5-year deal, valued at $257,000 per-year.^[7]

In January of 2024 Slush Puppie Canada and the City of Kingston, Ontario came to an agreement valued at over two million dollars that grants Slush Puppie Canada, a division of J&J Snack Foods, the naming rights to the facility. In February of 2024 the facility will be renamed to "Slush Puppie Place".^[8] The arena was officially renamed to "Slush Puppie Place" on February 16, 2024.

The inaugural concert at Slush Puppie Place was performed by The Tragically Hip on February 23, 2008.^[9] The arena has since hosted several concerts and entertainment events by artists including Elton 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.^[9]

On August 20, 2016, The Tragically Hip played the final concert of their Man Machine Poem Tour at Slush Puppie Place (then Rogers K-Rock Centre) with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, in attendance.^[10][11] The tour was announced after it was made public that lead singer Gord Downie had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.^[12] The concert was broadcast by the CBC's radio, television, and digital platforms under the title The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration.^[13]

 

From February 16 to 24, 2013, Slush Puppie Place hosted the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women's national curling championship; becoming the first Ontario city to host the event since Sault Ste. Marie in 2010.

In the tournament, Rachel Homan from the Ottawa Curling Club in Ottawa, Ontario defeated former Scotties champion Jennifer Jones of the St. Vital Curling Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba 9–6 in the final game. Total attendance for the event was 65,825.

From February 29 to March 8, 2020, Slush Puppie Place hosted the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship; commemorating the 200th anniversary of Kingston's first organized curling game.^[14] The Brier was held in Kingston for the first time since 1957.^[14]

In the tournament, Brad Gushue of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador defeated Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton, Alberta 7–3 in the final game. Total attendance for the event was 96,076.

 

From October 28 to 31, 2010, the City of Kingston played host to the 2010 Skate Canada International, an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event. This was the first major international sporting event to be hosted at the rink, and was broadcast across the world.

Patrick Chan of Canada won the Men's singles title, and Alissa Czisny of the United States won the Women's singles title. Liubov Ilyushechkina and Nodari Maisuradze of Russia won the Pairs title. Canadians Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier were crowned Ice dancing champions.

The arena hosted the 2015 Canadian Figure Skating Championships between January 19 and 25, 2015.^[15]

Nam Nguyen of Ottawa, Ontario won the Men's singles title and Gabrielle Daleman of Newmarket, Ontario won the Women's singles title. Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Boucherville, Quebec won the Pairs title, while Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ontario won the Ice dancing title.

The Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League have played at Slush Puppie Place since the February 22, 2008. They are the primary tenant of the arena.

In their first game at their new home, Don Cherry dropped the puck for the ceremonial face off prior to the game. The Frontenacs dropped their first game in front of over 5,700 fans, losing 3–2 to their rivals, the Belleville Bulls.^[16]

Two days later, on February 24, 2008, the Frontenacs earned their first win at the Slush Puppie Place, defeating the Peterborough Petes 7–4.^[17]

 

Slush Puppie Place (then Rogers K-Rock Centre) in its hockey formation, November 2015

 

Slush Puppie Place (then Rogers K-Rock Centre) in its basketball formation, April 2018

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.^[18] The hall officially opened in 1996, and in 2008, it moved into Slush Puppie Place.^[19]

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leon's Centre.

• Slush Puppie Place website
• Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame