The Washington Avenue Armory, officially known as the Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Washington Avenue (Tenth Battalion) Armory, is now a multi-purpose arena on the corner of Washington Avenue and Lark Street in downtown Albany, New York. The Armory has a capacity of 4,300 for concerts and conventions and 3,600 for sports events.[3]
Washington Avenue Armory
"The Armory"
Full name
Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena
The Armory was built in 1890 for the Tenth Battalion of the New York National Guard, designed by state architect Isaac Perry.[1] Since the earliest years of professional and collegiate basketball, several college and minor league basketball teams have played in the Armory, as there was no other suitable facility for basketball in the Albany area for many years. The Armory also hosts boxing matches. For many years in the 1960s and 1970s the armory hosted the WWF wrestling association owned by the McMahon family. The Friday night cards were always a sellout.
In 1956, the Armory hosted two regular season NBA games. The first was the Fort Wayne Pistons versus the Syracuse Nationals on December 4 and the Minneapolis Lakers versus the Rochester Royals on December 20. Both games failed to bring many fans, with the Lakers and Royals game only selling 1,500 seats.
Between 1982 and 1990, the Armory was home to the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association. After the Patroons moved to the then-new Knickerbocker Arena, the Armory fell into disuse and was the target of several reuse proposals including becoming the new home of the Albany Library System (whose main branch is next door to the Armory). The Armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 2, 1995.
In 2004, Albany Basketball & Sports Corporation bought the Armory and the renovated facility opened in September 2005, later that year becoming the home for a reincarnated Patroons. In 2006, the CBA Patroons were joined by the former Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the USBL though their first home game as the USBL Patroons did not take place until 2007. It also became home to the New York Buzz of World TeamTennis prior to their 2008 season.
On December 15, 2007, the Armory had to cancel a concert of the rock band Brand New because the roof began to cave in.[4]
Facilities and managementedit
Armory logo
The Armory has 38,000 square feet (3,500 m2) of floor space, meeting facilities, and two video screens. Its website states that it will soon open an underground mall featuring stores and eateries.[when?][5]
Michael Corts is the Armory's general manager. Former Albany County Executive James Coyne served as general manager from 2005 to 2009. Jay Baron replaced Jim Coyne.[6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washington Avenue Armory.
Washington Avenue Armory Homepage
January 01, 1970
washington, avenue, armory, officially, known, sports, convention, arena, listed, national, register, historic, places, washington, avenue, tenth, battalion, armory, multi, purpose, arena, corner, washington, avenue, lark, street, downtown, albany, york, armor. The Washington Avenue Armory officially known as the Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Washington Avenue Tenth Battalion Armory is now a multi purpose arena on the corner of Washington Avenue and Lark Street in downtown Albany New York The Armory has a capacity of 4 300 for concerts and conventions and 3 600 for sports events 3 Washington Avenue Armory The Armory Full nameWashington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention ArenaLocation195 Washington Avenue Albany New York United States 12210Coordinates42 39 25 N 73 45 44 W 42 657081 N 73 762325 W 42 657081 73 762325OwnerAlbany Basketball amp Sports CorporationCapacity3 600 4 300ConstructionBuilt1890 1 Opened1890Renovated1930s 1 ArchitectIsaac PerryTenantsAlbany Patroons CBA USBL TBL 1982 1990 2005 2009 2018 present New York Buzz WTT 2008 Albany Legends IBL IBA 2010 2012 Washington Avenue Tenth Battalion ArmoryU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of New YorkShow map of the United StatesArea1 4 acres 0 6 ha Built1889Architectural styleLate Victorian castellatedMPSArmy National Guard Armories in New York State MPSNRHP reference No 95000077 2 Added to NRHPMarch 2 1995 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities and management 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe Armory was built in 1890 for the Tenth Battalion of the New York National Guard designed by state architect Isaac Perry 1 Since the earliest years of professional and collegiate basketball several college and minor league basketball teams have played in the Armory as there was no other suitable facility for basketball in the Albany area for many years The Armory also hosts boxing matches For many years in the 1960s and 1970s the armory hosted the WWF wrestling association owned by the McMahon family The Friday night cards were always a sellout In 1956 the Armory hosted two regular season NBA games The first was the Fort Wayne Pistons versus the Syracuse Nationals on December 4 and the Minneapolis Lakers versus the Rochester Royals on December 20 Both games failed to bring many fans with the Lakers and Royals game only selling 1 500 seats Between 1982 and 1990 the Armory was home to the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association After the Patroons moved to the then new Knickerbocker Arena the Armory fell into disuse and was the target of several reuse proposals including becoming the new home of the Albany Library System whose main branch is next door to the Armory The Armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 2 1995 In 2004 Albany Basketball amp Sports Corporation bought the Armory and the renovated facility opened in September 2005 later that year becoming the home for a reincarnated Patroons In 2006 the CBA Patroons were joined by the former Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the USBL though their first home game as the USBL Patroons did not take place until 2007 It also became home to the New York Buzz of World TeamTennis prior to their 2008 season On December 15 2007 the Armory had to cancel a concert of the rock band Brand New because the roof began to cave in 4 Facilities and management edit nbsp Armory logo The Armory has 38 000 square feet 3 500 m2 of floor space meeting facilities and two video screens Its website states that it will soon open an underground mall featuring stores and eateries when 5 Michael Corts is the Armory s general manager Former Albany County Executive James Coyne served as general manager from 2005 to 2009 Jay Baron replaced Jim Coyne 6 See also editLark Street National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany New YorkReferences edit a b c Todd Nancy Smith Raymond December 1994 National Register of Historic Places nomination Washington Avenue Tenth Battalion Armory New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Retrieved October 6 2011 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Washington Avenue Armory Facts Washingtonavenuearmory com 2008 12 08 Archived from the original on 2005 04 08 Retrieved 2012 08 26 News Fightoffyourdemons com 2007 12 27 Archived from the original on 2007 12 27 Retrieved 2012 08 26 Washington Avenue Armory Washingtonavenuearmory com 2009 04 25 Archived from the original on 2005 04 07 Retrieved 2012 08 26 Armory dumps Coyne as general manager Albany Times Union August 1 2009 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washington Avenue Armory Washington Avenue Armory Homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Washington Avenue Armory amp oldid 1216244659, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
