View source for CAA Arena

{{Short description|Arena in Belleville, Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{confused|CAA Centre}}
{{Infobox Stadium
| stadium_name = 
| nickname = 
| logo_image = CAA_Arena_-_Belleville,_Ontario.jpg
| image = CAA Arena 2019.jpg
| pushpin_map = Ontario#Canada
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ontario##Location within Canada
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_label = CAA Arena
| address = 265 Cannifton Road
| location = [[Belleville, Ontario]]
| former_names = Quinte Sports Centre (1978–)<br>Yardmen Arena (–2018)
| broke_ground = 1976
| built = 
| opened = 1978
| renovated = 2016
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Belleville, Ontario|City of Belleville]]
| operator = [[Belleville, Ontario|City of Belleville]]
| surface = Mechanically-frozen ice
| construction_cost = 
| architect = 
| general_contractor = 
| tenants = [[Belleville Bulls]] ([[Ontario Hockey League|OHL]]) (1981–2015)<br>[[Belleville Senators]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) (2017–present)
| seating_capacity = [[Ice hockey]]: 4,365
| dimensions = {{convert|200|ft|m}} X {{convert|85|ft|m}}
}}
'''CAA Arena''' is a 4,365-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[Belleville, Ontario]], Canada. It is the home of the [[Belleville Senators]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL). Built in 1978, it was first known as the '''Quinte Sports Centre''' and eventually '''Yardmen Arena'''. It is part of a larger recreational complex with several ice rinks, a pool and other facilities, known as the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre.

==Description==
The arena was built with an [[Ice hockey rink#Dimensions|international-size]] ice surface of {{cvt|200|ft|m}}&nbsp; length by {{cvt|100|ft|m}}&nbsp; width. It was the largest ice surface in the Ontario Hockey League. This has since been converted to a standard NHL-sized rink. The arena is one of four ice rinks in the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre complex.

The arena has two balconies, on opposite sides of the ice. It was the only arena in the Ontario Hockey League to have a second level of seating until [[Budweiser Gardens]] was built in [[London, Ontario]] in 2002.

==History==
The arena was opened in 1978. The Yardmen Arena name was in honour of a small group of railroaders known as "The Belleville Yardmen" who raised more than {{CAD|3 million|link=yes}} to contribute to its construction. The [[Belleville Bulls]] started as a Junior Tier II team in the OHA. On February 2, 1981, the OHL granted an expansion franchise to the city of Belleville and the ownership group of Dr. Robert L. Vaughan & Bob Dolan, and the Bulls joined the OHL. The team played in the arena until 2015, when it was sold and moved to Hamilton. The Yardmen Arena has hosted the [[Ontario Hockey League history#All-Star Games|OHL All-Star Game]] twice, in [[1982–83 OHL season|1983]] and [[2005–06 OHL season|2006]].

Yardmen Arena hosted an [[NHL]] pre-season game between the [[Washington Capitals]] and [[Winnipeg Jets]] on September 14, 2013 as part of the Kraft Hockeyville festivities. Nearby [[Stirling-Rawdon]] won the Kraft Hockeyville contest in 2012, but the original game scheduled between the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] and [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] was cancelled due to the [[2012-13 NHL lockout]].

During the 2015–16 hockey season, Yardmen Arena hosted three [[Federal Hockey League]] games, with the intent of the league exploring the location for a team. If Belleville had been given a franchise, their nearest opponent would have been the [[Watertown Wolves]] across the US/Canada border, about 100 miles away in [[Watertown, New York]]. The games all had the [[Berlin River Drivers]]  as the home team against and the [[Port Huron Prowlers]] on December 12, the [[Danbury Titans]] on January 2, and the [[Dayton Demolition]] on February 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com/leagueschedule.html?leagueid=1018 |title=Federal Hockey League &#124; Pointstreak Stats |publisher=Fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com |date= |accessdate=2016-09-26}}</ref>

In summer 2016, it was reported that the [[Ottawa Senators]] were considering moving their [[American Hockey League]] affiliate, then known as the [[Binghamton Senators]], to Yardmen Arena for the [[2017–18 AHL season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/binghamton-sens-moving-north-to-bellevile-say-broome-county-officials |title=Binghamton Sens moving north to Belleville say Broome County officials |newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=July 9, 2016}}</ref> Upgrades would have to be made to accommodate an AHL franchise including repairing the boards, the floor refrigeration system, and increasing the arena's capacity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/report-sens-to-move-ahl-affiliate-to-belleville/|title=Report: Sens to move AHL affiliate to Belleville {{!}} The Hockey News|website=www.thehockeynews.com|access-date=July 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710234636/http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/report-sens-to-move-ahl-affiliate-to-belleville/|archive-date=July 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The transfer was confirmed in September 2016, after Belleville City Council approved a $20.5 million upgrade to the arena. The upgrades included an increase in capacity, a new NHL-sized rink, new home team dressing room, new refrigeration system, new score clock, new washrooms and a new public entrance and in effect lead to a rebuilding of the arena.<ref>{{cite news |work=Quinte News |title=$20.5 Million upgrades approved for Yardmen Arena - Quinte News |url=http://www.quintenews.com/2016/09/20-5-million-upgrades-approved-yardmen-arena/127804/ |date=September 26, 2016 |accessdate=September 26, 2016}}</ref> The [[Belleville Senators]] agreed to a lease for eight years. The team played their first month of the 2017–18 AHL season on the road and opened their inaugural season at the Yardmen Arena on November 1, 2017, to a sold out crowd.

On September 19, 2018, the Senators sold the naming rights to the arena and it became officially known as CAA Arena for the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quintenews.com/2018/09/yardmen-arena-re-named/186676/ |title=Yardmen Arena Renamed |work=Quinte News |date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> The naming rights contract is for seven years.<ref>{{cite press release |author=Belleville Senators |url=https://bellevillesens.com/belleville-senators-to-play-out-of-newly-renamed-caa-arena/ |title=Belleville Senators to play out of newly renamed CAA Arena; special tribute to Yardmen Arena history planned |date=September 19, 2018}}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:Yardmen Arena inside.JPG|Interior of Yardmen Arena prior to the 2017 renovations.
Image:OHL_ALL_STAR_GAME_2006.jpg|OHL All-Star Game 2006 Opening Face Off.<br>February 1, 2006.
</gallery>

==Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre==
As well as the CAA Arena, the City of Belleville operates three other, smaller arenas for ice hockey teams and rentals.
* Family Dental Centre Arena
* Mackay Insurance Arena
* Wally Dever Arena

The complex also includes the Templeman Aquatic Centre, which includes three pools:
* Main Pool
* Therapy Pool
* Pre-school Pool

A seasonal outdoor pool and splash pad is also part of the complex.

'''Source:''' City of Belleville<ref>{{cite web |publisher=City of Belleville | url=https://www.quintesportsandwellnesscentre.ca/en/index.aspx |title=Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre |accessdate=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://caaarena.com/ CAA Arena]
* [https://www.quintesportsandwellnesscentre.ca/en/index.aspx Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre]

{{Belleville Senators}}
{{AHL Arenas}}

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[[Category:Indoor arenas in Ontario]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario Hockey League arenas]]
[[Category:Sport in Belleville, Ontario]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hastings County]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in Canada]]
[[Category:Belleville Senators]]