NHL Arenas: Ranking the Central Division Teams’ Homes

Sep 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the American Airlines Center and the W hotel before the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Arenas are one of the most important things in any (local) NHL fan’s life — after all, they are your team’s home! Some of them are nice, others, well, not so much.

The NHL is one of North America’s major sports leagues. Unfortunately, it isn’t the one with the most fan interest. According to ESPN’s major league attendance reports, the NHL is behind the NFL and MLB, and almost tied with the NBA — far behind the two former leagues. That’s why NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman tries to make this league as fancy as possible, which makes the discovery of hideous NHL arenas even more surprising.

Until last season, the ugliest building likely would have been the New York Islander’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. In case you forgot what that looks like, here it is again.

Dec 14, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; A general view of the arena before the game between the New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a place with a lot of history, it looks nice inside, but from the outside, it’s just one big, ugly block of cement. Luckily, the Islanders moved to Brooklyn this year, where beautiful Barclay’s Center is their new home. Which team has the ugliest building in the league now? Without wanting to spoil anything — it’s in the Central Division, it’s not Pepsi Center and it looks a lot like the Islanders’ old block of cement.

How important is the outside of a building really, as long as your team is successful and the fans create a good atmosphere inside? Well, NHL arenas are generally located right downtown and contribute to a city’s overall look. Nice arena, nice city; ugly arena, ugly city — at least in theory. Why do we care? When yor team isn’t playing well, you need to find other ways to have fun.

So, let’s take a look at where the Colorado Avalanche’s Pepsi Center ranks among Central Division NHL arenas. Remember, this is just about the architecture and looks of the buildings — not the inside, atmosphere or anything else were not taken into account.

Next: Central Division Arena #7

May 1, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stadium exterior before game one of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Central Division Arena #7: United Center (Chicago Blackhawks)

The Chicago Blackhawks may be the best team in recent history, but their home arena may well be the ugliest — besides Boston’s TD Garden, I can’t think of anything uglier right now. In the picture above, United Center doesn’t look terrible because of the big screens that make it look somewhat modern. Other than that, it looks a lot like Nassau Coliseum.

Remember Chicago Stadium, the Blackhawks’ original home? Personally, I don’t, because it was closed in 1994, before I was born. Anyway, judging by pictures, it looked much better than United Center. The Blackhawks moved in 1995, gaining about 2,000 extra seats in a more modern but worse looking arena.

So, Chicago might have the NHL’s ugliest arena right now. But, I have to ask: when the inside looks like the picture below, with your team hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup every few years, does the outside really matter? Probably not. Still nice to see Chicago at the bottom of a ranking for once.

May 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view before the start of game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Next: Central Division Arena #6

Mar 9, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; An overall view of the Xcel Energy Center prior to the game between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

Central Division Arena #5: Xcel Energy Center (Minnesota Wild)

I am so used to seeing the Avalanche behind the Minnesota Wild in the standings, power rankings and everything else that it feels good to beat them in at least one category. Minnesota may be the city with the friendliest people in all of America, but their NHL arena isn’t all that great. Not all that great doesn’t mean it’s ugly though.

The arena was built for the Minnesota’s 2000 expansion team and has been the Wild’s home ever since. As you can see in the picture above, it also kind of looks like a block of cement, but with a modern window front. To be completely honest with you, even though we’re talking about the Wild here, it looks much better in good weather and at night time, and also has nice brick walls instead of cement on the other side. Still, not as nice as the remaining four Central Division arenas.

So, United Center is simply ugly, Xcel Energy Center isn’t. But it also anything more than not ugly. It’s enough for fifth in the Central Division. Moving on.

Next: Central Division Arena #4

Apr 18, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; A general view during the national anthem before the game between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild during in game two of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Central Division Arena #4: Scottrade Center (St. Louis Blues)

Scottrade Center, home of the St. Louis Blues. Another team that doesn’t need to care about the outside of their arena too much because their team is good and successful enough to talk proudly about the ongoings inside. Then again, the Blues tend to collapse come playoff time while their arena doesn’t — so, what’s really important here?

Many St.Louis-based sports teams have called Scottrade Center — formerly called Kiel Center (1994-2000) and Savvis Center (2000-2006) — their home, but only one team has been there for now 20 years. You guessed it, the St. Louis Blues.

On the outside, the building is similar to Xcel Energy Center, as it also has a big glass front on one side, with the rest of the building being solid. What makes it better than Minnesota’s arena? Firstly, said glass front is more unique and creative than simply using windows instead of bricks. Secondly, the arena has a rather unique shape due to its roof, which kind of looks like a more subtle version of Calgary’s Saddle Dome.

Next: Central Division Arena #3

Apr 9, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the Pepsi Center prior to the game between the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Central Division Arena #3: Pepsi Center (Colorado Avalanche)

The first four arenas in this ranking were all, well, what you expect a hockey arena to look like. Nothing special and kind of bland. Then there’s Pepsi Center, commonly called “The Can” (it’s Pepsi Center, get it?), home of the Colorado Avalanche. Nice shape, nice color, great architecture, amazing environment. Okay, you can’t really take the Rocky Mountains into account here, but it’s definitely a cool side feature.

Before Pepsi Center was completed in 1999, as part of a Denver sports venue upgrade that also included Coors Field (Colorado Rockies, MLB) and Sports Authority Field (Denver Broncos, NFL), the Colorado Avalanche played at McNichols Sports Arena which is now, er, a parking lot for Sports Authority Field. Well, Pepsi Center combines the traditional shape of a hockey arena (oval, duh) with modern colors and add-ons (e.g. the foyer) with modern architecture.

The only thing that could make this arena even cooler would be if it was burgundy and blue. But, the Denver Nuggets (NBA) would probably be jealous then, since Pepsi Center is their arena as well. Oh well.

Next: Central Division Arena #2

Feb 28, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; General view of Bridgestone Arena prior to the Detroit Red Wings game against the Nashville Predators. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Central Division Arena #2: Bridgestone Arena (Nashville Predators)

After the combination of traditional and modern, we are moving on to 100 percent modern. Looking for NHL arenas that scream 21st century? Don’t look past the Nashville Predators’ Bridgestone Arena — at least not past its front. Which is surprising, because it’s the second-oldest building on this list (right after Scottrade Center), completed and opened in 1996.

The arena has a modern window front, just like the past four do. However, Bridgestone Arena also has a very interesting roof that makes the entire building look about 200 percent more futuristic. It looks a little bit like a U.F.O. that landed on top of a hockey rink and was just left there. Especially when it’s night time and the roof lights are turned on.

It’s all personal preference, but I’m someone who enjoys modern and unique architecture, which is definitely present in Nashville. That said, it is finally time for the Central Division’s No. 1 arena.

Next: Central Division Arena #1

Oct 9, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the arena before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeat the Stars 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Central Division Arena #1: American Airlines Center (Dallas Stars)

The Dallas Stars American Airlines Center. Here I have to contradict myself. Didn’t I just say I liked futuristic designs and architecture, like Bridgestone Arena’s U.F.O. roof? Well, yes. But look at American Airlines Center, who would expect this to be a hockey arena?

In my personal opinion, this is the NHL’s coolest arena. It could totally be an iconic old train station like Grand Central Station in New York City or King’s Cross in London. Honestly, without the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks (NBA) banners, if I didn’t know this arena and was walking around Dallas looking for central station, I’d think that was it. Especially since it’s located exactly one mile away from Union Station.

By the way, David M. Schwarz, architect of American Airlines Center and many other buildings, has been named the recipient of the 2015 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame — an award that is given to architects who contribute to classical architecture in the modern world. Well deserved, Mr. Schwarz!

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