USA Hockey Arena

USA Hockey Arena Location within Michigan Show map of Michigan USA Hockey Arena Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Former names	Compuware Sports Arena (1996–2007) Compuware Arena (2007–2015)
Location	14900 Beck Rd. Plymouth Township, Michigan
Owner	USA Hockey
Operator	Arena Management Inc.
Capacity	3,504 (seated) 4,500 (incl. standing)
Field size	Ice, 200' x 85'
Construction
Broke ground	May 1996
Opened	September 10, 1996[3]
Construction cost	$22 million
Architect	DTS + Winkelmann, LLC[1]
Structural engineer	Structural Associates Inc.[2]
Tenants
Plymouth Whalers (OHL) (1996–2015) Detroit Rockers (NPSL) (2000–2001) Wayne State Warriors (NCAA) (2003–2005) Detroit Ignition (MISL/XSL) (2006–2009) Detroit Waza (PASL-Pro) (2008–2009) USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USHL) (2015–present)

The USA Hockey Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Plymouth Township, Michigan, opened in 1996. Originally known as the Compuware Sports Arena, its name was shortened to Compuware Arena on September 11, 2007, to better market the venue for non-sporting events it hosted.^[4] It was renamed again to USA Hockey Arena in 2015 when the USA Hockey Foundation purchased the arena.^[5]

History

Peter Karmanos, the President of Compuware and owner of the Detroit Whalers, arranged to build the Whalers a new home as soon as the 1995–96 season ended after playing that season at Oak Park Ice Arena and The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Compuware Sports Arena was constructed in six months' time, ready for the 1996–97 season. The team remained the Detroit Whalers after moving to Plymouth Township and then were renamed the Plymouth Whalers in 1997–98.

The complex features two arenas. The main arena, where the Whalers played their home games, has a standard NHL-size rink and has seating for roughly 4,000 people. The second features an Olympic-size ice surface, and 800 seats on only one side of the ice. The two arenas share concession stands, both of which have openings for both arenas simultaneously, allowing one set of staff to serve both arenas simultaneously. The arena was home to the now defunct Detroit Ignition, a Major Indoor Soccer League / XSL team, as well as the Compuware Ambassadors minor hockey program. Previously, the arena hosted the now defunct Detroit Rockers of the National Professional Soccer League during its last season in 2000-2001. On October 22, 2006, TNA hosted Bound for Glory (2006) at the arena.

The arena also hosts the annual MHSAA high school state championships for boys ice hockey, and hosts the commencement ceremonies for Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Northville High School, as well as for other high schools.

In November 2014, it was reported that USA Hockey had reached an agreement to eventually take over Compuware Arena by mid-2015, with an intent to relocate the National Team Development Program from Ann Arbor to Plymouth, and use the facility to "host and showcase other USA Hockey programs and international events". The Plymouth Whalers were to remain a tenant,^[6] but were ultimately sold in January 2015 and re-located to Flint.^[7]

In April 2017, USA Hockey Arena hosted the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship.^[8]

Notable music performances

• Gucci Mane, October 26, 2007
• Journey, November 2, 2008
• The Crofoot and AEG Live present: Girl Talk, March 3, 2011 (Sold Out) ^[9]
• Five Finger Death Punch, December 16, 2011
• The Crofoot and AEG Live present: Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria, Borgore, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, We Came as Romans, November 9, 2011^[10]
• The Crofoot and AEG Live present: Pretty Lights, TOKiMONSTA, Paul Basic (Sold Out)^[11]
• The Crofoot and AEG Live present: Passion Pit, Matt & Kim, Icona Pop, February 21, 2013 (Sold Out) ^[12]
• The Crofoot and AEG Live present: High Velocity Super Action Fun Time Festival featuring: Bring Me the Horizon, We Came as Romans, Of Mice & Men, Attila, Issues, Northlane, Wilson, February 21, 2014 (Sold Out)