Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. The plaza. Yes, it was called Sports-O-Rama Plaza starting in 1959. Perhaps was changed in 1970s to just Sports-O-Rama Roller Rink. Noticed the Vegas/1950s style lights sign was big and listed all activities and all. Looked smaller right? Had everything in that small space! The expansion (see next photo) was adding the dance center and eliminated the steak house and archery and moved the diner (see where the ground level windows were) to where Bit-O-West was located then they finally moved to final home where the skate rentals used to be in the expansion section forcing the rentals to one end of the rink. Source: Pamela Baird Menard.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. The plaza. Yes, it was called Sports-O-Rama Plaza starting in 1959. Perhaps was changed in 1970s to just Sports-O-Rama Roller Rink. Noticed the Vegas/1950s style lights sign was big and listed all activities and all. Looked smaller right? Had everything in that small space! The expansion (see next photo) was adding the dance center and eliminated the steak house and archery and moved the diner (see where the ground level windows were) to where Bit-O-West was located then they finally moved to final home where the skate rentals used to be in the expansion section forcing the rentals to one end of the rink. Source: Pamela Baird Menard.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Pamela Baird Menard. Notice the snack bar that looked more like a diner? Perhaps it was like that intimation. Noticed the windows to the right of the photo? That helped you to find where that location was on front of the black-n-white photo on top 2. Source: Pamela Baird Menard.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. 1970s logo of Sports - O - Rama. Source: Dead-Rinks.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. This is one of few rare postcards of the rink seen in 1959. It had high exposed beams and ceiling, windows, and exposed HVAC pipes on the sides. Source: Dead-Rinks.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. It was too orangey early 1970s photograph so I tuned down but could not make it color because I do not have photoshop software instead, I use a free software that came with my computer. After the restaurant left, they did renovated by adding the name ROLLER SKATING on it and new logo (the same you saw above and few photos down.) on the right. Then they did renovated having it all brown (no photos taken) as I recalled skating there. Until Mark Colvin had it painted in Blue which Pamela Mengel continued with. Source: Dead-Rinks. Photo Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks. (Color balance)
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. This was the expansion built and it had odd looking canopy above the main doors which was moved. Original was the double doors between original snack bar and the original restaurant location. Then they moved to the former restaurant location (see photo above), Then final location of front door as seen in this photo. Source: Dead-Rinks.
Action Sports-and Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Final photo before demolished. New canopy. But same paint job. As you can see the renovation on the outside.. especially the black base.. that was cinderblocks. That was what I painted when I worked with my boss, Mark. Funny story. I knew it would rain (I am natural weather forecaster), and Mark asked me to start renovate outside by painting the base. I said, "OK, but you know that it will rain and wash away the paint?" Mark did not believe me so I did the paint and I painted about 3/4 all the way. And then rain began. That was about an hour or so after I started. The rain washed away and I went in and told Mark to come out side, he did not believe me and told him to come and he saw it was all washed away. Haha. I was correct about the rain and washed away. Mark said he will get new paint and will do all that himself. I said, "Good! Do it!" He did himself. You can see in the final picture above how it was starting to fall apart. warped and disconnected. OH one more thing, the door on the left in that photo above, it was part of the snack bar/diner like. Then it became employee door. Source: Dead-Rinks.
Action Sports-and Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. She was owner of Action Sports and Skate, the final rink's name. Can you spot a former restaurant in the background on the right side of Route 11? Next to the car dealership...What restaurant was that? I know what. Its up to you to say what it was. See answer at bottom. Source: Pamela Baird Mengel.
Action Sports-and Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Once again, the beams,.. well, almost fully exposed like it was in the original photo. Beautiful Maple floor with shining polyurethane coated floor. When the rink was being remodeled in 1970s, the ceiling was lowered to where the top of the US Flag is shown in the photo. You can see the fading Blue hue there below where the lowered ceiling white foam board panels were. They raised because of the basketball hoops were added for basketball leagues there. They also took out practice floor half walls. Not shown are the 1970s, 1980s look. Anyone have photos? Source: Pamela Baird Mengel.
Action Sports-and Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Once again, the beams,.. well, almost fully exposed like it was in the original photo. Beautiful Maple floor with shining polyurethane coated floor. When the rink was being remodeled in 1970s, the ceiling was lowered to where the top of the US Flag is shown in the photo. You can see the fading Blue hue there below where the lowered ceiling white foam board panels were. They raised because of the basketball hoops were added for basketball leagues there. They also took out practice floor half walls. Not shown are the 1970s, 1980s look. Anyone have photos? Source: Pamela Baird Mengel.
Action Sports-and Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. This is the final location for the concession stand. When they first opened the rink in 1959, this area was not existed until 1979 and this was skate rental until it was changed. I like skate rental in this area better and concession where it was (see the blue print below). This is final photo of the rink as it was as Action Sports-and Skate. Source: Pamela Baird Mengel.
The mural on the back wall changed a few times. First you saw in the old postcard I have above. Tan with Red. Then in 1970s, they had carpet on the wall. Yes, carpet with customized murals on the carpet. Perhaps made patterns and spray paint it. Those carpet held up till 1990 when they were starting to peel off. During one session in the afternoon as Floor Guard/having fun and waiting for in-between sessions at 4pm for me to clean up for the 7pm session, well, during that time, I was stopping to have some water because I was sweating after skating alot. Some kids who knew I work there (I have whistle) and then they told me carpets were peeling off same time. Wow, one by one, so I had to quickly get on the floor and told skaters to move away from the wall as I pulled out carpets entirely during that afternoon session. Shortly after that, a mural was painted to show one point perspective in beautiful Purple, Red, and Tan colors It was to make the rink look larger. I love that illustration to trick the eyes. But the final was all Sky Blue with rainbows and skates with the name ACTION CENTER. I felt sad about that. Most of the murals were completely painted over with Sky Blue giving very sea-sick feeling to it. And an 8-Ball on the wall where the Pool table room was. That was where the relocated skate rental room was moved to to make room for snack bar. Source: Pamela Baird Mengel.
The mural on the back wall changed a few times. First you saw in the old postcard I have above. Tan with Red. Then in 1970s, they had carpet on the wall. Yes, carpet with customized murals on the carpet. Perhaps made patterns and spray paint it. Those carpet held up till 1990 when they were starting to peel off. During one session in the afternoon as Floor Guard/having fun and waiting for in-between sessions at 4pm for me to clean up for the 7pm session, well, during that time, I was stopping to have some water because I was sweating after skating alot. Some kids who knew I work there (I have whistle) and then they told me carpets were peeling off same time. Wow, one by one, so I had to quickly get on the floor and told skaters to move away from the wall as I pulled out carpets entirely during that afternoon session. Shortly after that, a mural was painted to show one point perspective in beautiful Purple, Red, and Tan colors It was to make the rink look larger. I love that illustration to trick the eyes. But the final was all Sky Blue with rainbows and skates with the name ACTION CENTER. I felt sad about that. Most of the murals were completely painted over with Sky Blue giving very sea-sick feeling to it. And an 8-Ball on the wall where the Pool table room was. That was where the relocated skate rental room was moved to to make room for snack bar. Source: Pamela Baird Mengel.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Photo courtesy of Kyle Tape. This is the addition done in 1979 with the new dance center. It was quite different than any dance centers or discos or night clubs in the area. Huge steps up to different levels to watch dancers dance. There were bench-like as you can see on the right--two levels. The room above the walkway was where the DJ played music as the snack bar was situated on the left. It was very geometric in that facility. At one time, they had lighted floor, then it was taken out. This dance center was non-alcoholic night club. The yellow lines were added likely much later as Action Sports because of perhaps insurance company requested they post safety features. During Sports-O-Rama, no safety features. This was taken as the photographer standing on the dance floor looking toward the DJ booth and the enter/exit lobby. The dance center was added in 1979 for January 1980 opening. The drafting outline below explained the new addition.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Basic drawing by then Manager Mark Colvin for regionals. You can see the evolution of the rink. The former restaurant was replaced by the lounge, mini dance floor, snack bar, and birthday area. The game room replaced the diner-like concession stand and the right side was added in 1979. Later, under Pamela Baird Megnel, the snack bar once again relocated to where the skate rental area is. That was third and final location. The concession stand in the drawing became birthday area. they added windows and doors between the lounge and the rink area (I do not know why they have to add the doors and windows) and I noticed skaters seem to avoid the lounge because of the windows and the glass doors! Skaters do not like separations, they want to feel part of the rink while sitting down. The practice area on the left was removed for basketball area and added the stands there. Yes, 4 hoops were added on the rink. Much criticisms rise with that and just a couple of times boxing were held there. Also skate shop was built larger. What was not shown in the drawing above was manager's office and money safe room. They were under the platforms of Dance Center and was not shown for the Nationals there. Source: Kirt Spurchise.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. This was the logo of Sports-O-Rama in 1970s. Looks and feel very 70s here. Taken when it was exposed as they were tearing down the rink in 2015. Source: Elizabeth Roberts on FB.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Noticed the roof toward the back of where the rink was. It had a big long gash.. hole in the roof. The dark part were the original building with archery up front, diner in front "side" and the rink in the rear. The addition was done in year 1979 for opening in January 1980. That is the new dance center and additional bathroom plus office and admission and extra lockers. The new addition is easily seen with white-ish aluminum roofing shown. This was taken by Google showing that it was being dismantled. Next door was the iconic Pizza Hut which is also closed. Part of the building behind Pizza Hut used to be P&C Fresh Market and they closed that one and relocated up the same road, about a mile north (right side of the photo) for a bigger location and currently is a Big Lots. That is why the former pizza restaurant is added to this picture. Source: Google.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. You can see the expansion of Sports-O-Rama in white where that would have been much bigger rink to add with the existing rink It would be almost as twice wide as the original. But the length longer. Oh I wish Byrne Dairy did not tear it down and I would have renovated the roof new floor, and expand. See the illustration below for the layout of a new rink that was proposed in 1990-91. It never occurred. Source: Google.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. This layout would have been a new concept if the operator back in 1990 would have expanded. If that was possible, he would have had a bigger rink built behind the existing wall in the rear (see white area in the photo above. The existing rink would have merged with the new bigger rink to make it a shape like a 9 or even a 6 shape rink. I did render (could not find the original drawing but I remembered what I designed. The rear wall would have been a strong thick shatterproof smoked set of windows up to the roof area. New trusses would have curved instead of flat roof like Sports-O-Rama had because of famed or infamous winter snow (averaging 125 inches per winter) The Segmental Arch would cover only the rink and part of the right side of the rink. It would have been modernized look both inside and out.
The white part is you can rest, enjoy watching skaters, etc. The dance floor would have been centered so that there would be one DJ, not two like what Sports-O-Rama did when they expanded in 1979. They did not think about the cost of twice the equipment and employees. New proposal would have just one DJ for both skating and dancing.
The new rink would also have a stair for skaters and non-skaters to walk over to enjoy resting and to dance as well. This is part of Dead-Rink Proposal as well. Source: Mark Falso/Dead-Rinks
The white part is you can rest, enjoy watching skaters, etc. The dance floor would have been centered so that there would be one DJ, not two like what Sports-O-Rama did when they expanded in 1979. They did not think about the cost of twice the equipment and employees. New proposal would have just one DJ for both skating and dancing.
The new rink would also have a stair for skaters and non-skaters to walk over to enjoy resting and to dance as well. This is part of Dead-Rink Proposal as well. Source: Mark Falso/Dead-Rinks
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Source: Google. 2009.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. Being demolished. Source: Syracuse Nostalgia.
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY. See the roof collapsed. This was after it was shut down. Source: Syracuse Nostalgia.
Sports-O-Rama Plaza 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY
Dance-n-Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY
Action Sports-and-Skate 2299 Brewerton, Rd, Rte 11, Mattydale, NY
Sports-O-Rama 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY
Dance-n-Skate 2299 Brewerton Road, Route 11, Mattydale, NY
Action Sports-and-Skate 2299 Brewerton, Rd, Rte 11, Mattydale, NY
Originally it was Rosebud home estate where L. Frank Baum (author of Wizard of Oz) lived. A great site at Free Thought website. explains great detail about the history of the property. It was a farm land likely even included where the schools are behind the farm are today.
The very original it was called, Sports-O-Rama Plaza! Yes, plaza! It had not just a roller rink but also an archery, a diner-like, a steakhouse, yes, you heard that right, a steakhouse!
Originally a farm house, then a roadhouse/steakhouse then an entertainment center starting in 1959 as Sports-O-Rama where people skated, and even danced and played archery and a diner were located. It even had what it was called Bit-O-West. That was the steakhouse. The original building was smaller and had everything. The original door was a singular door in the middle of updated building. The Google Map will tell you the darker part of the roof was the original building. It is to the left of the main doors. A night club without any alcoholic beverages. And more bathrooms. The original was quite different.
Originally it was different. 1950s style, 1970s style, 1980 remodel and once again before its demise in 2005. The building is no longer there as it was demolished in 2015.
The diner was located right by the main door when you walk in, you are in the diner area. then go in the rink area. There were windows up front between 2 doors making it appeared like a 1950s diner in a large building. The original had just only exposed ceiling, beams, and windows up high. They even had exposed venting pipes on each side. It looked very industrial at the time.
They moved the eating counter to the side near the rink and bathroom but moved once again toward front of the building by where archery was in 1980. Then in 2004, it was moved once again to where the locker area that the skate rentals used to be since 1980.
In 1992, there was a consideration to expand Sports-O-Rama by adding larger and longer rink behind the original rink and dance center. It would have been an L-shaped rink and greenhouse style so that skaters can see snow falling in winter or in summer, beautiful moon light in the sky but all under glass. It would have made this rink world's largest. But budget and problems constrained the concept and fizzed. Mark Falso came up with renderings. Unfortunately I did not collect the drawings back as it was left with Sports-O-Rama.
The skate rental then moved to where the pool table area used to be.
There was a small store in front of the main office behind the admission booth.
Bathrooms were on each side of the building.
The rink was one of the largest in the nation according to Mark Colvin who ran the business in 1990 till 1992. Mark told me that. He said the rink in Latham, NY is world's largest. That rink is still in operational.
The rink back wall had no carpet as in original however, in the 1980 remodel, it had a carpet wall to wall floor to ceiling. It had a small analog clock hard to see from the other side of the rink.
However, in 1990, the carpet was pealing and one did peal right off during a Saturday afternoon session and I had to set up cones to move skaters out of way and someone and I rolled up that carpet and threw it out. Then worked on to pull the rest down for safety reason. That wall became a mural. Beautiful red, purple, and yellow mural looks like a distance in view.
This was done by Mark. There were beautiful art work on this wall in snack bar area and larger-than-life skaters on the wall including Mark Colvin on the wall where the birthday party room (formerly archery room) was located.
Mark Falso did the other mural on the DJ side with the word, SKATING diagonally and an oversize skate on that same wall plus Guys and Gals next to the doors of the restrooms on the other end.
However, after Mark left and new business owner came in and ruined the walls with Navy Ship Grey hue over all those murals and put on an 8 ball. The changes ruined it all. Then further changes once again after another owner after that owner, painted "Action Center" on that same wall where the carpets were falling on the rink.
The practice floor had a half-wall rail dividing the rinks were added in 1980 remodel and removed in 1990 remodel that added the benches for pair of basketball hoops on the rink. The original ceiling was at the max making the rink area appeared tall only to be covered with white ceiling panels and the Empire Skates disco-lights were added to it in 1983. Then removed them and raised half way up the exposed beams for the basketball to hide the original window stills. See pictures to compare.
Needs more pictures to show 1950s, 60s, and 1970s and even 1980s and 1990s photographs to show evolution of the rink. Anyone has them, please notify me and I will add and this site stays on forever. They originally had a memorial website but it has been taken down for some reason I do not know why.
Sports-O-Rama saw the writing on the wall with the decline around 1993 with a little revival in 1990 because of in-line skates and Sports declined again. After Howard Baird's Death in 1990, the rink named changed to Dance-and-Skate. and names were changed several times since till it closed in 2008, one year shy of 50th anniversary. Many skaters are disappointed not to celebrate 50th at the same rink.
What really nailed themselves in coffin was that the insurance company forced the rink to provide copies of contracts for every single skaters to sign to prevent any lawsuit against the rink for any injuries. People refuse to sign. (according to my sources). That caused the rink to shut down. Another reason was that the roof leaked badly that it was damaging the beautiful wooden floor.
After it was closed, no one wanted to buy so in 2010s, Byrne Dairy purchased the rink and tried to sell. For a rink with leaking roof damaging the floor for 800,000 Dollars was too much. The damage to the rink and the roof would cost twice as much than what it was selling for. So, the rink was dismantled for recyclable materials. Today it is still for sale and an empty lot.
Sad part is that there were a couple of serious incidents that caused two deaths. A little girl was hit by car on the parking lot and a teen was stabbed in the stomach in the parking lot. Two separate incidents it happened. It was around late 1960s when this happened. The stabbing was reported by an EMT in early 2010s online explaining what happened.
I would need photos to post above. Both as it was opened from 1959 till its demolished. Anyone has them please send and will be credited.
Rink Size: 100' x 200' (one of world's largest) Floor: Maple, Urethane coated. Floor Layout: Fan
Building Size: Roughly 60,000 SF. Build: 1958-59. Demolished: 2015 Roof caved in between closure and demolished.
Type of building: Originally block built, the addition converted most into a warehouse-like. Free span steel.
Roof: Mixed. Flat and Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: None.
Roller Skating rink, Archery Lanes (1959 to 1960s), Dance Center January 1980 to closure)
Operated: 1959 to 2008.
Sports-O-Rama Plaza: 1959-?
Sports-O-Rama: ? to 1990
Dance-n-Skate: 1990 to 1992
Action Sports and Skate: 1992 to 2008
Reason for Closure:
Sports-O-Rama Plaza: Name changed to Sports-O-Rama.
Sports-O-Rama: Management change.
Dance-n-Skate: Money loss. Operator forced management out.
Action Sports and Skate: Likely money loss.
Wanted: Information regarding owners, photos from start to end. Both interior and exterior especially the Steakhouse, the archery in action, trade show, etc in the 1960s and photos from 1970s. More photos since 1970s.
Sources:
Syracuse.com,
Personal memory,
Mark Colvin (in 1990/91),
Syracuse Nostalgia,
Sports-O-Rama literature (my memories).
Facebook.
Date of Issue: 25 December 2018. (Second profile to work on ever). Updated: 2020, 2021, 04 February 2022.
For office only: 21.
Answer to guessing: It was a Friendly's Ice Cream Restaurant.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The very original it was called, Sports-O-Rama Plaza! Yes, plaza! It had not just a roller rink but also an archery, a diner-like, a steakhouse, yes, you heard that right, a steakhouse!
Originally a farm house, then a roadhouse/steakhouse then an entertainment center starting in 1959 as Sports-O-Rama where people skated, and even danced and played archery and a diner were located. It even had what it was called Bit-O-West. That was the steakhouse. The original building was smaller and had everything. The original door was a singular door in the middle of updated building. The Google Map will tell you the darker part of the roof was the original building. It is to the left of the main doors. A night club without any alcoholic beverages. And more bathrooms. The original was quite different.
Originally it was different. 1950s style, 1970s style, 1980 remodel and once again before its demise in 2005. The building is no longer there as it was demolished in 2015.
The diner was located right by the main door when you walk in, you are in the diner area. then go in the rink area. There were windows up front between 2 doors making it appeared like a 1950s diner in a large building. The original had just only exposed ceiling, beams, and windows up high. They even had exposed venting pipes on each side. It looked very industrial at the time.
They moved the eating counter to the side near the rink and bathroom but moved once again toward front of the building by where archery was in 1980. Then in 2004, it was moved once again to where the locker area that the skate rentals used to be since 1980.
In 1992, there was a consideration to expand Sports-O-Rama by adding larger and longer rink behind the original rink and dance center. It would have been an L-shaped rink and greenhouse style so that skaters can see snow falling in winter or in summer, beautiful moon light in the sky but all under glass. It would have made this rink world's largest. But budget and problems constrained the concept and fizzed. Mark Falso came up with renderings. Unfortunately I did not collect the drawings back as it was left with Sports-O-Rama.
The skate rental then moved to where the pool table area used to be.
There was a small store in front of the main office behind the admission booth.
Bathrooms were on each side of the building.
The rink was one of the largest in the nation according to Mark Colvin who ran the business in 1990 till 1992. Mark told me that. He said the rink in Latham, NY is world's largest. That rink is still in operational.
The rink back wall had no carpet as in original however, in the 1980 remodel, it had a carpet wall to wall floor to ceiling. It had a small analog clock hard to see from the other side of the rink.
However, in 1990, the carpet was pealing and one did peal right off during a Saturday afternoon session and I had to set up cones to move skaters out of way and someone and I rolled up that carpet and threw it out. Then worked on to pull the rest down for safety reason. That wall became a mural. Beautiful red, purple, and yellow mural looks like a distance in view.
This was done by Mark. There were beautiful art work on this wall in snack bar area and larger-than-life skaters on the wall including Mark Colvin on the wall where the birthday party room (formerly archery room) was located.
Mark Falso did the other mural on the DJ side with the word, SKATING diagonally and an oversize skate on that same wall plus Guys and Gals next to the doors of the restrooms on the other end.
However, after Mark left and new business owner came in and ruined the walls with Navy Ship Grey hue over all those murals and put on an 8 ball. The changes ruined it all. Then further changes once again after another owner after that owner, painted "Action Center" on that same wall where the carpets were falling on the rink.
The practice floor had a half-wall rail dividing the rinks were added in 1980 remodel and removed in 1990 remodel that added the benches for pair of basketball hoops on the rink. The original ceiling was at the max making the rink area appeared tall only to be covered with white ceiling panels and the Empire Skates disco-lights were added to it in 1983. Then removed them and raised half way up the exposed beams for the basketball to hide the original window stills. See pictures to compare.
Needs more pictures to show 1950s, 60s, and 1970s and even 1980s and 1990s photographs to show evolution of the rink. Anyone has them, please notify me and I will add and this site stays on forever. They originally had a memorial website but it has been taken down for some reason I do not know why.
Sports-O-Rama saw the writing on the wall with the decline around 1993 with a little revival in 1990 because of in-line skates and Sports declined again. After Howard Baird's Death in 1990, the rink named changed to Dance-and-Skate. and names were changed several times since till it closed in 2008, one year shy of 50th anniversary. Many skaters are disappointed not to celebrate 50th at the same rink.
What really nailed themselves in coffin was that the insurance company forced the rink to provide copies of contracts for every single skaters to sign to prevent any lawsuit against the rink for any injuries. People refuse to sign. (according to my sources). That caused the rink to shut down. Another reason was that the roof leaked badly that it was damaging the beautiful wooden floor.
After it was closed, no one wanted to buy so in 2010s, Byrne Dairy purchased the rink and tried to sell. For a rink with leaking roof damaging the floor for 800,000 Dollars was too much. The damage to the rink and the roof would cost twice as much than what it was selling for. So, the rink was dismantled for recyclable materials. Today it is still for sale and an empty lot.
Sad part is that there were a couple of serious incidents that caused two deaths. A little girl was hit by car on the parking lot and a teen was stabbed in the stomach in the parking lot. Two separate incidents it happened. It was around late 1960s when this happened. The stabbing was reported by an EMT in early 2010s online explaining what happened.
I would need photos to post above. Both as it was opened from 1959 till its demolished. Anyone has them please send and will be credited.
Rink Size: 100' x 200' (one of world's largest) Floor: Maple, Urethane coated. Floor Layout: Fan
Building Size: Roughly 60,000 SF. Build: 1958-59. Demolished: 2015 Roof caved in between closure and demolished.
Type of building: Originally block built, the addition converted most into a warehouse-like. Free span steel.
Roof: Mixed. Flat and Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: None.
Roller Skating rink, Archery Lanes (1959 to 1960s), Dance Center January 1980 to closure)
Operated: 1959 to 2008.
Sports-O-Rama Plaza: 1959-?
Sports-O-Rama: ? to 1990
Dance-n-Skate: 1990 to 1992
Action Sports and Skate: 1992 to 2008
Reason for Closure:
Sports-O-Rama Plaza: Name changed to Sports-O-Rama.
Sports-O-Rama: Management change.
Dance-n-Skate: Money loss. Operator forced management out.
Action Sports and Skate: Likely money loss.
Wanted: Information regarding owners, photos from start to end. Both interior and exterior especially the Steakhouse, the archery in action, trade show, etc in the 1960s and photos from 1970s. More photos since 1970s.
Sources:
Syracuse.com,
Personal memory,
Mark Colvin (in 1990/91),
Syracuse Nostalgia,
Sports-O-Rama literature (my memories).
Facebook.
Date of Issue: 25 December 2018. (Second profile to work on ever). Updated: 2020, 2021, 04 February 2022.
For office only: 21.
Answer to guessing: It was a Friendly's Ice Cream Restaurant.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.