Echoes of the Past: The Old Anchorage Sports Arena
The Joy of Ice Skating, Hockey Matches, and Unforgettable Concerts
Skate blades on the ice, the roar of crowds cheering the Wolverines hockey team, legendary rock and roll stars and bands, all under one iconic roof in Anchorage.
From its debut in 1965 and into the late 1970s, the Anchorage Sports Arena, located at 100 W. Fireweed Lane and A Streets, wasn't just a building; it was a big part of the Anchorage entertainment scene.
It was the place where bone-rattling indoor hockey, ice-skating, electrifying concerts, and the unforgettable, larger-than-life drama of Big Time wrestling came alive.
Until the Sports Arena, you could skate outdoors all over town, but there wasn’t an indoor skating venue to be found.
Indoor Wolverines Hockey
When the Sports Arena opened its doors, it became the original home of the Wolverines, Anchorage’s semi-pro hockey team.
Even KIMO-TV channel 13 (Now KYUR) got into the game by broadcasting Wolverines hockey live from the Sports Arena.
Big Time Wrestling Came to Town
In the 1970s, KTVA (Channel 11) broadcast a show called Big Time Wrestling.
The program was produced in another state and was broadcast in Anchorage on videotape.
Big Time wrestling stars included Bobo Brazil, The Sheik, Abdullah the Butcher, Dick the Bruiser, and George “The Animal” Steele. Because of the Sports Arena, Big Time Wrestling decided to come to Anchorage.
Weeks before the scheduled matches at the Sports Arena, the stars of Big Time Wrestling who were coming to Anchorage began promoting their local appearance. They snarled and growled on camera about how they were going to come up and crush each other in front of the Anchorage crowd.
On the Saturday night of the Big Time Wrestling extravaganza at the Sports Arena, I drove from the KTVA studios in Spenard to see how big a crowd would turn out at the Sports Arena.
Much to my surprise, the parking lot was full to overflowing. It was jam-packed with Big Time Wrestling fans.
Yes, You Can Share This Edition
And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will give you a gift card for a year’s supply of your favorite lunch at the Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage… well, it could happen.
Concerts at the Sports Arena
And here’s a look at some of the musical groups that performed at the Sports Arena.
In early August of 1970, Fats Domino (Blueberry Hill) played the Sports Arena.
At that time, Mary Jane and I had only been married for about two months, and our first apartment was across the street from the Sports Arena. So on the night of Rick Nelson’s concert, we opened our bedroom window and went to sleep listening to Rick singing “I’m a Traveling Man.” Cool.
Other Sports Arena concerts included:
The Turtles (“Happy Together”) performed there in the 1960s, and Mary Jane of Anchorage Memories was on stage as a Go-Go Girl with Pacesetters for the warm-up band.
In the picture above, Mary Jane poses with Mark Volman, a member of the Turtles, in the Sports Arena.
In 1973, Anchorage enjoyed a Johnny Cash concert at the Sports Arena
Santana rocked the stage in 1973
In 1975, Grand Funk Railroad headlined a show
And 1975 saw Fleetwood Mac at the Sports Arena
Three Dog Night (“Joy to the World”) performed in 1975
In 1976, Gordon Lightfoot (“Sundown”) played the Sports Arena
And America (“A Horse with No Name”) came to town in 1978
Mary Jane Skating at The Sports Arena
At the age of 4, I started ice skating. Fun places to skate included neighborhood backyard rinks, the 9th Avenue rink, and the rinks set up at my schools.
In the winter of 1970, my friend told me they were offering ice skating lessons at the Sports Arena. So, we enrolled in a 6-week course for beginners.
It worked out great. Mike and I lived across the street from the Sports Arena, so it was a nice, short walk. And as a side benefit, because of all the energy I used on the ice, I went home to a “second” breakfast.
I was happy to have taken the lessons, and I even earned an ice skating patch at the end of my 6 weeks. What fun.
Echoes of the Past
Do you remember going to an event or concert at the Sports Arena?
Tell us about it.
From Our North Stars (that’s you)
From our Anchorage Picture Memories edition.
Diana remembers:
“Thanks for the memories! I certainly remember Providence Hospital and the Bun Drive-In with Ron Moore. I always enjoy your postings. I grew up there from 1949, graduated from high school at East High in 1967, and even got married up there.”
Jackie recalls:
“I wasn't born in the old Providence Hospital, but I worked there in the early 1960s when it was St. Mary's Residence, a nursing home. Wonderful old building full of history.”
Michael and the Book Cash:
“Thanks for these memories. We lived in Bethel for many years, beginning in 1968. The Book Cache was my favorite place to go on those rare trips to Anchorage back in the day. Great Memories!”
Anchorage Memories.com
Take a look at this treasure chest of Anchorage Memories and enjoy.
Connect with Mike and Mary Jane
Living right across the street from the old Sports Arena was interesting and sometimes rewarding. Getting to listen to part of a concert for free by simply opening our bedroom window was enjoyable.
No crowd, no parking hassle, and no concert ticket to purchase. Wow.
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Until Next Time
Mike and Mary Jane
Anchorage Memories Club
The sports arena also hosted many giant flea markets.
Loved this story. Didn’t realize how many different famous groups played at the Sports Arena back then! Years later I took my son to see Hulk Hogan at Sullivan Arena!