Germain Arena

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name =Germain Arena
nickname =


location = 11000 Everblades Parkway
Estero, Florida 33928
broke_ground =
opened = 1998
closed =
demolished =
owner = |Chris Webber operator =
surface =
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names = TECO Arena
Everblades Arena
tenants = Florida Everblades (ECHL) (1998-present)
Florida Firecats (af2) (2001-present)
seating_capacity =Hockey: 7,128

Germain Arena is a 7,128-seat multi-purpose arena in Estero, Florida.

The arena was first named Everblades Arena in 1998 after the hockey team that played there. TECO Energy was the first company to obtain the naming rights to the building, changing the name to TECO Arena. In 2004, TECO Energy decided they were no longer interested in holding the naming rights. Germain Motor Company bought the rights, and in 2004 the venue was renamed to Germain Arena. This same company, an automobile dealership with locations in Florida, Arkansas, and Ohio, also holds the naming rights to the Germain Amphitheater in Columbus, Ohio.

Germain Arena is home to the Florida Everblades ECHL ice hockey team, the Florida Firecats Arena Football League 2 (af2) team, and was the home for the Florida Flame NBA Development League team. The venue also hosts various concerts,Total Nonstop Action Wrestling house shows World Wrestling Entertainment house shows and Professional Bull Riders events.

Germain Arena is also home to the [http://www.fgcuicehockey.com Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles Hockey Team] of the [http://www.achahockey.org American Collegiate Hockey Association] (ACHA). In March, 2006, the facility hosted the [http://hockey.fgcu.edu/nationals.html Division 3 ACHA National Championships] and in March 2008 the [http://www.fgcuicehockey.com/nationals.html Division 2 ACHA National Championships] .

Fan support is known for at the Germain, as the Florida Everblades have accumulated millions of fans over ten seasons of play. Everblades games are usually packed with energetic fans, and are known to have some of the best fans in the ECHL. Sections 110 and 111 are known to be the loudest sections of the Germain.

Starting in December 2000, the arena has been host to an annual college hockey tournament, originally known as the Everblades College Classic, now called the Florida College Hockey Classic. This 4-team tournament is hosted by the University of Maine Black Bears and the Cornell University Big Red, and two other teams are invited each year. The winner is awarded the Ned Harkness Cup. [ [http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=12389 Brush Makes Vision Into Reality In Florida] ECHL.com 10-22-2007

]

Upcoming Events

*Luis Miguel
*Larry The Cable Guy
*Winter Wonder Slam
*Disney On Ice
*WWE

References

External links

* [http://www.germainarena.com/ The Official Site of Germain Arena]
* [http://www.floridaeverblades.com/ The Official Site of the Florida Everblades]
* [http://www.floridafirecats.com/ The Official Site of the Florida Firecats]
* [http://hockey.fgcu.edu/ The Official Site of the FGCU Ice Eagles]