Dave Was Here

On July 20, 2016 the Cincinnati Gardens was sold.  It was my signature on the closing documents that sealed the fate of this Cincinnati icon. With the deal done, the building born in 1949 sat dark, silently awaiting execution as the new owners proclaimed their intention to repurpose the property. More plainly put, the 67 year old building would soon face the wrecking ball.

I didn't give much thought to signing what amounted to a death sentence for the Cincinnati landmark.  As an officer of a community bank, it's not unusual for me to attend a real estate closing and sign closing documents.  Often these are highly charged emotional events where buyers and sellers meet and navigate the formalities of a sale. But this wasn't a typical closing. It was just me and a singular attorney in a small room signing a series of documents. It was a seemingly non event;  no pomp, no emotion and in less than five minutes it was over and I was back to my regular routine.

Although I am the president of the entity that owned the Cincinnati Gardens, the truth be known, I had little to do with the Gardens.  I maintained an office in the building having worked for Jerry Robinson since his purchase of the building some 36 years ago, but my business was always elsewhere. I took the place for granted. For me, the Gardens was nothing more than a physical location from which to do my work and on occasion snag some free event tickets. Having no emotional attachment to the facility, it may not have been an accident that those involved in managing the Gardens weren't available to attend the closing. Surely it would have been a difficult endeavor for them.

That evening, I reflected on the day's events and the magnitude of the transaction. The destruction of the Gardens is a big deal, I thought to myself.  The Cincinnati landmark touched the life's of millions of people and holds a special place in Cincinnati History. I bet one day the Gardens will be sorely missed and folks will talk about it nostalgically, like they do the Albee Theatre and Crosley Field.  "It's a shame they tore it down," people will say.  Sadly, that's how I felt.

Originally named singularly as The Cincinnati Garden, it was envisioned with hockey in mind. It was modeled after the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto and the resemblance is obvious.  That hockey palace was home to the NLH Toronto Maple Leafs for 68 years and because of its prominent downtown location was redeveloped in 2009.  It stands today as a Canadian national historical site.  

When the Garden opened on  February 22, 1949, it was a major event for the City of Cincinnati. The opening of the seventh largest arena in the United States was witnessed by dignitaries from around the country who came to town for its debut; an NHL exhibition game between the Montreal Canadians and the soon to be Cincinnati Mohawks.  Later that week Garden events included UC Baskeball, Xavier Basketball and a heavyweight boxing match that saw Cincinnatian Ezzard Charles beat Joey Maxim of Cleveland.  The Garden was a big hit and ushered in a new age for entertainment for the Cincinnati metro area.  Never had the traffic been so congested on Seymour Avenue reported the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Over its first 25 years, The Gardens was the place to see an indoor event in Cincinnati.  The building hosted hockey, basketball and most every popular concert and show of the time. Thousands of events played the Gardens to millions of patrons.  As a child I remember strolling through the travel and boat show with my parents and attending a hockey game with my uncle from Canada.  As a teen, I saw the band Creedence Clearwater Revival.  It was the summer of 1971 and my first rock concert.  I think it would be tough to find a person in the greater Cincinnati area under the age of 50 who doesn't have personal memories of  the Gardens. Books will be written.

Everything changed in 1975. Riverfront Coliseum opened and seemingly marked the end times for the Gardens.  The Coliseum booked all the big shows and popular opinion had it that there was no place in town for a so called "second rate" arena.  By 1979 the Gardens was viewed as a white elephant. It was shuttered and for sale.  As they say in today's vernacular, it was ready to be repurposed.

Along came Cincinnati real estate developer Jerry Robinson, who had a vision for the facility.  He saw a large parcel of land in a central metropolitan location with a humongous structure having high ceilings and clear free span.  With commercial-industrial development in mind, he moved forth to negotiate a real estate deal with the anxious out of town owners.  Jerry bought the building and surrounding land for $825,000.

As Jerry patiently waited for his real estate strategy to evolve, something else happened; he received calls for booking the facility. Why not book an event, he thought?  First he booked a local wrestling show and shortly thereafter an opportunity presented itself to host a national closed circuit boxing match featuring Sugar Ray Leonard vrs Roberto Duran.  The promoter included a live match showcasing a local boxer, a rising star named Aaron Pryor. 

I remember that night.  It was Friday, June 20, 1980 and the Gardens was jammed pack with a highly energized crowd exceeding 10,000.  It was the first major event at the reopened Gardens and with the Who tragedy (December, 1979) fresh in their minds, city officials were closely monitoring activities. The lobby was still packed and only a couple hundred tickets remained when Mayor Blackwell gave Garden's management the order to halt ticket sales.  

I recall a very congested main concourse. Looking into the arena I saw a scene out of  an old black and white movie with a few splashes of color.  Center court prominently displayed the boxing ring shrouded by dimmed lighting and a heavy smoky haze. When the bell rang, the action was short and sweet. Aaron Pryor took just 2 minutes 15 seconds to KO his opponent in the first round. Unfortunately, that left way too much idle time awaiting the start of the closed circuit feed and the main event.  People milled around, packing the hallways and concession areas.  There was a buzz in the air and I sensed edginess.  Folks paid $20 bucks for a seat and wanted more action.  To me it was like a pressure cooker, simmering.  I had no ticket and no seat, so I didn't linger.  Thankfully, the evening concluded with no major problems and the Cincinnati Gardens reaffirmed itself as a viable venue. Its revival would continue.
    

Around that time, Jerry relocated the offices of his real estate management company, Kenko Corporation, to the Gardens.  Kenko moved into the office suite on the second floor, in the front of the building, directly above the lobby. I was relatively new to the organization and was delighted to have an office with a window overlooking Seymour Avenue.

Jerry Robinson in 1983

More events were to come to the Gardens and in 1983 Jerry Robinson landed an anchor tenant, Xavier University basketball. The Musketeers called the Gardens home court for 17 years, accumulating an impressive 215 wins and only 25 losses. When Xavier left the Gardens in 2000 for their new arena, The Cintas Center, they were a nationally recognized basketball program. Without question, the Gardens played a role in Xavier's rise to national acclaim.  Along the way the Gardens also hosted University of Cincinnati basketball from 1987-89 and Cincinnati Cyclones hockey from 1990 to 1997. When the Cyclones relocated to Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum Jerry Robinson brought the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to town. The Ducks skated the Garden's ice from 1997 until 2005. 

In 1997 Jerry opened Spring Valley Bank, a community bank in Wyoming, Ohio. He left his office at the Gardens and relocated to the bank on Springfield Pike.  Jerry continued his regular attendance at Gardens events, but over time he distanced himself from the Gardens operation. I can still picture Jerry walking through the arena prior to a Mighty Ducks game accompanied by Lily, his white bichon.  After the Mighty Ducks disbanded the Gardens continued a slow decline. Times had changed again. The Gardens faced competition from newer arenas like Shoemaker, Cintas and Bank of Kentucky Center. And due to the high costs of touring, a mid-sized indoor concert became a rarity. Moreover, the Garden's had no anchor tenant to provide a steady stream of revenue and lacking air conditioning, it was shuttered during the summer months.  Jerry enabled the Gardens to continue for another decade, albeit operating on "life support".

In 2013 the Gardens was put up for sale.  There was some interest, but few serious buyers. Ultimately, a quasy government agency known as the Port Of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority appeared and in the summer of 2016 purchased the Cincinnati Gardens and the 19 acres of adjacent land for 1.2 million dollars.  Their objective; to promote economic development in the region.

On a hot July afternoon, in a matter of hours, I took what I wanted from my office of 36 years. I said my goodbyes and left my mark on the black plastic covering the drafty old casement windows and my view of Seymour Avenue. In retrospect, I have come to appreciate the Cincinnati Gardens for what it was; a unique and special place with an unpretentious charm and a rich history. It was the house of the common man with a lingering aroma of popcorn and beer in the air.  There was nothing fancy about the Gardens, no boxes or club seats, but it was a fine entertainment venue for an ice show, a circus, a rodeo or a concert.  Over time, I think the Gardens will be best remembered as a great place to watch a hockey or basketball game. Every seat was a good seat. You sat up close to the action and were drawn into the excitement of the game. And there were many exciting games played at the Gardens.

Jerry Robinson through his entrepreneurial spirit provided a tremendous community service to the citizens of greater Cincinnati.  He gave a second life to the Cincinnati Gardens;  a revival of 36 years that provided many lifetimes of memories.  "I think there's a lot of love for the Gardens in this community, " Jerry told the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1984. And right he was. 

 

The Cincinnati Gardens 2016  Not at all looking ready for demolition

Sound Memories

The Gardens was never intended to be a music venue, but it was. Over six plus decades millions of fans watched and listened to their favorite performers play "Cincinnati."  The results were scores of fantastic and memorable concerts and shows.

Until 1982 concerts at the Garden's were plagued by the buildings acoustics. To ardent fans, it often didn't matter, but according to Gardens owner, Jerry Robinson, the building's mass of masonry and metal created a sound disaster.  It was a problem he had to resolve to further develop the Garden's concert business. Jerry took a scientific approach and engaged a sound expert from Yale University. The problem was determined to be something the professionals call "the picket fence effect." After analysis and testing the remedy was to drape 10,000 yards of duvetyne, a felt-like fabric, from the arena ceiling to kill the echoes. Joe Jagoditz, Gardens GM for 36 years said that after the fix, the Gardens, once referred to as "The Tin Barn", was transformed into one of the best musical venues in the City.  Joe booked Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra to debut the Garden's new sound. 

Concerts Remembered:

1954 - January 24.  Gene Autry was my favorite when I was very young.  I saw him and his horse 'Champ' at the Cincinnati Garden with my Dad when I was 5 years old. Gene sang songs, including, 'Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer'.  He led Champ through tricks. I still remember Champ going to one knee and lowering his head. Then, Gene, led Champ around the Gardens, close to the wall, so kids, including me could reach down and touch him. It's still one of my great memories among many great family memories growing up!! - Anonymous at first-thoughts.org

1964 - August 27.  Last Thursday night The Beatles were in town and packed the (Gardens), our show, out there..... the majority being girls..... The question is, can you take 14,000 youngsters and pack them into one stadium when they know they are coming there to get hysterical? And the whole show was based on producing hysteria.... and then these girls went into a coma, they ranted , they fainted, eyes were glassy, some pulled their hair out, some tore their dresses, they threw notes of an undesirable nature on the stage....... It was as some people say, unbelievable - Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Benjamin Schwartz

1965 - May 29.  Judy Garland sang six songs during her 20 minute opening set at the Garden's including the tune "When your Smiling". However, no one was smiling after a ten minute intermission extended to an hour.  Miss Garland returned to the stage accompanied by two physicians who advised the audience that she had a virus and a temperature and was not able to continue her performance.  Ticket prices for the concert ranged from $3.75 to $7.50.  According to Billboard Magazine, when it was learned that there would be no refunds, "patrons were hotter than a cowboy's six shooter."  Miss Garland was paid her $20,000 guaranteed fee an hour before show time.

1965 - November 27. The Rolling Stones played at Cincinnati Gardens. I know because I was there. Half empty Gardens that night. Opening act was from Boston called the Rocketing Ramrods. Turned the sound off & the house lights on twice during the show. The crowd all rushed the floor to be close to the stage. After playing Satisfaction, the Stones walked off the stage. Some chick Jumped out of the stands and onto Jagger's back and went with them backstage. Bill Coyne

1968 - November 15. I remember Cincinnati Gardens as the site of the first big rock concert I ever attended. Our small group of friends left Lucasville, Ohio, relishing the road trip to Cincy nearly as much as the opportunity to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience in concert. We were young high school students and we were all about Jimi. We had all purchased the 8-track tape of the album Are You Experienced, and we had already driven countless miles around our hometown in Southern Ohio accompanied by the unearthly sounds of "Purple Haze" and "Foxy Lady" and "Hey Joe." We had already been exposed to the footage of Monterey Pop and Jimi's famous guitar-burning ritual. And, naturally, we all had marveled at Jimi's guitar theatrics and amazing showmanship. But, this, our first true road trip together was special because it represented a rite of passage in the sense that we were 17 years-old, carefree, and entrusted to the wild spirit of rock and roll. Like giddy children at an amusement park, we inhaled the sights and sounds of a major rock concert venue. We were too busy living the moment to buy souvenirs or to realize that we should savor (and preserve) the Hendrix Experience. The show was outstanding -- loud, heavy, and full of memorable Hendrix moments. Not one of us took drugs or acted crazy or charged the stage. We were there to see Jimi and to hear the Experience -- period. To us, Jimi was everything "groovy" and the legitimate sound of our times. Our attendance at the concert validated our "cool." We became experienced. Frank Thompson, All Things Wildly Considered (blog)

1970 - March 26. The Cincinnati Pop Festival was a huge success despite a no show by the headliner, Joe Cocker. Tickets were five bucks for the 12-hour, rock marathon that featured national bands MC5, Amboy Dukes, Savoy Brown and local rockers Balderdash, Whale Feathers and Bitter Blood Street Theatre. The festival's success at the Gardens led to an outdoor festival in June at Crosley Field.

1971 - November 12. It was rip 'em up, tear em up, give em hell Elvis night at Cincinnati Gardens.... Elvis appeared and hysteria erupted. From the moment he entered the hall to the moment he left, the air was supercharged - with enough flashbulbs exploding to give the effect of a dozen strobes....... Such a glorious frenzy we have never seen the likes before. Jim Knippenberg, The Cincinnati Enquirer,

1973 - February 14. You couldn't possible have squeezed one more person into Cincinnati Gardens Wednesday night.  Not after slightly more than 12,500 had already traffic jammed their way down Seymour Avenue to pack the hall.  All that for Neil Young, one of rock's superstars and Linda Ronstadt, who isn't quite a superstar, but ought to be.  Ronstadt opened the show with what had to be one of the most thrilling performances in Gardens' history.  Such a fantastic, beautiful performer.  People may have been their primarily for Neil Young, but Ronstadt gave all the 12,500 their money's worth. And then Neil Yound gave them more than their money's worth.  Appearing behind a bank of amplifiers and a row of lights (it took three semis and a 22 foot van to get it all there. The van was equipped with a 32 track recording studio and a closed circuit TV system on which the concert was taped).  Young began with some of his acoustical stuff, just him and his guitar.  It was received madly. Wildly. Lovingly. Young kept his voice quiet, almost folksie and painted a very peaceful picture. With a slight twang, maybe even a slightly nasal quality, he came off quite relaxed.  And then came the rock and roll.  Neil Young's rock and roll is a carefully blended mixture of country sounds, folk sounds and soft rock sounds. His work comes off very controlled and sophisticated. It's hard to say just how beautiful he was, so thoroughly professional, so completely competent.  It's easy to say that in over five years of concert going (that's a lot of concerts), his show was one of the best. Very easy to say it.  Jim Knippenberg, Cincinnati Enquirer.
  
1973 - December 4.  I drove from Athens, Ohio to see The Grateful Dead. It took forever to set up the infamous Wall of Sound. Phil (Lesh) came out, alone, with a glass of wine and proceeded to yell about the promoters, the Belkin brothers. He told the crowd not to be pissed at the Dead...to take it up with the Belkin brothers...Yikes - Campburt.    Note: The aforementioned concert, unusually short for the Dead, was recorded and released on CD. The show begins with a band member making note of some technical difficulties. "This whole scene here has gotten quite out of hand and... (pause).... I'm suppose to keep talking, so...(pause)...you can turn down the houselights now...(pause) I said you can turn down the house lights now.... Now man, Now!" Suddenly, the song Johnny B. Goode begins. At the songs conclusion one of the band members asks, " Where the F* did you say we were?"

1975 - June 21. I can remember the Eric Clapton and Santana concert well. I was with a friends Frank B. and Tony W. We were eating mushrooms and we were on the floor close to the stage at the Gardens. It was probably the most exciting show I ever saw. Santana opened for Clapton and they were great, then E.C. played an unbelievably smoking show. At the time he still had at least two cats from Derick and The Dominoes playing with him. THEY TORE IT UP. At the end Carlos came out and played with Clapton. I know for sure they played "After Midnight" together. I think the tickets were 15 bucks. Can you imagine? Seems like they played all night too . Wonderful Memories. - Melinda, myconcertarchive.com

1983 - April 8. I was at the Kinks concert in '83.  Dave Davies held his guitar down to the crazys in the front row. My friend and I strummed his guitar during their encore. As he pulls it away my finger caught his last string and it broke.  He was pissed.  A rodie came on stage and handed him another guitar.  Michael Patrick May

1984 - March 9. When Van Halen performed at the Gardens, I wanted to impress a friend so I took him up to the old press box. Not much to see there, but it led us to a catwalk high up in the steel rafters of Gardens. Through the darkness, we walked along the metal pathway to the middle of the arena. I'll never forget peering down at the stage watching Van Halen's high energy performance of their signature song "Jump" to the enthusiastic sold out crowd. Dave

1986 - May 23. George Thorogood and the Destroyers played the Gardens and subsequently released their album "LIVE" recorded at the Gardens that night.

1987 - March 19.  I was at this concert. Cinderella opened up for Bon Jovi and they were amazing as well.  The Energy was unbelievable and they played each song with so much power. They were in such a fucking great mood. They got the crowd involved. One of the best Rock N Roll Shows EVER!!! - Anonymous

1992 - August 20. It was a very hot August night! Ozzy Osbourne had just played at Deer Creek, Indiana the night before. This was my first real rock concert! I remember the arena dark during the intro music, then Ozzy's image could be seen behind the giant curtain, all big and illuminated. I can still see Mike Inez during that moment with his bass waiting for the curtain to drop. Hey! It was quite a moment! Many moments during that show! Kevin Vergamini, myconcertarchive.com

1993 - January 11.  The bands Damn Yankees and Jackyl made a memorable appearance at the Gardens. First, Jesse James Dupree, lead singer of the group Jackyl, was arrest for indecent exposure. Dupree dropped his pants on stage while holding his guitar in front of his body and then turned around and "mooned" the crowd. "They love to get crazy and they're kind of suppressed by their city government," said Dupree about Cincinnati rock fans. Later, Ted Nugent, of Damn Yankees was arrested for shooting flaming arrows from the stage. The pyrotechnic display was a regular part of the group's show. Nugent was released after paying $1,000 bail. He was not pleased with Hamilton County Judge Timothy Hogan, but stated that the Cincinnati police loved him and he signed over 100 autographs for them.

GARDEN'S TRIVIA:  NAME THE ENTERTAINER WHO PLAYED THE MOST SHOWS AT THE GARDENS?  answer below  

                                                    Conway Twitty appeared 9 times at the Gardens.

Share your memories of concerts at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com  

Remembering the Royals

The Royals were born in Rochester, New York in the mid 1940's and were original members of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team peaked in 1951 when they made it to the NBA Championship to battle the New York Nicks. It was a sensational series with the Royals winning the first three games, then losing the next three. Game seven saw classic basketball with the Nicks fighting back from a 16 point deficit. With only 40 seconds left on the game clock and the score tied, Royals star, Bob Davies was fouled and subsequently sank two free throws. The Royals prevailed 79-75 and were crowned NBA Champions. Unfortunately, the Royals of Rochester never achieved financial success and the NBA pressured Royal's ownership to relocate to a larger city. Jack Twyman, a Royals player and former University of Cincinnati star suggested a move to Cincinnati. 

In 1957 the Royals migrated west to the Queen City and took up residence in the Cincinnati Gardens. Royals stars Marice Stokes and Jack Twyman led Cincinnati to the playoffs during their inaugural season. However, tragedy struck during the final regular season game in Minneapolis when Stokes fell and hit his head on the hardwood floor. The result was a traumatic brain injury that left Stokes a quadriplegic and without the ability to speak. The Royals struggled for the next two years finishing last place in their division. 

Jack Twyman, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas

University of Cincinnati star Oscar Robertson joined the Royals in 1960 and immediately made a positive impact on the team. In 1961 he was named NBA Rookie of the year. The "Big O" was a one man wonder, a superstar on the hardwood. He became the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. Robertson still holds the NBA record for triple doubles in regular season games with an amazing 181. Compare that with Magic Johnson's 138 and Wilt Chamberlain's 78. In 1964 the "Big O" was named most valuable player in the NBA. 

The Royals improved further when Middletown High School and Ohio State University star Jerry Lucas joined the team in 1963. He became a top rebounder and in the 1963/64 season, Lucas recorded four 30-rebound games, including a 40-rebound game on February 29, 1964. Lucas is still today the only NBA forward with a 40-rebound game.

The years 1961-1966 were prime-time for the Cincinnati Royals. They had a winning record in each of those five seasons and made it to the playoffs. Furthermore, in 1963 and 1964 the Royals reached the East finals, but couldn't beat Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty.

A crowning moment for the Cincinnati Royals came on January 11, 1966 when the Cincinnati Gardens hosted the NBA All star game. It was a nationally televised event with the East versus the West; Red Auerbach coached the East and Fred Schaus, the West. Much of the game focused around Cincinnati's previously named All-Stars; Oscar Robertson, the All-Star MVP in 1964, and Jerry Lucas the All-Star MVP in 1965. Both Robertson and Lucas played for the East along with their Royal's teammate Adrian Smith, who Red Auerbach named as a reserve player. All Star players for the East also included the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek and Bill Russell. The Cincinnati crowd of 13,653 rallied behind the East who won handily 137 to 94. Adrian Smith of the Royals scored 24 points for the East and was named the Most Valuable Player for 1966. The NBA recognized his performance by rewarding him with a Ford Galaxie 500 convertible. 

After 1966, it was mostly downhill for the Royals. It was season after season that ended with a losing record. Jack Twyman retired in 1966, Jerry Lucas was traded to San Francisco in 1969 and in 1970 the Big O was sent to Milwaukee. Professional basketball and the NBA was growing, but attendance in Cincinnati was on the decline. The NBA signed a network television contract with ABC and there was a move of teams to larger markets. The Royals, who were losing money, were courted by other cities who promised new public funded arenas and hefty profits. In March of 1972 Royals owners announced that the team would move to Kansas City. Shortly thereafter on March 23, 1972, the Cincinnati Royals won their final game against the Baltimore Bullets 132- 114 before a Gardens crowd of 4,022 and said good bye to the Queen City. 

The Royals, renamed the Kings, played in Kansas City until 1985. From there they moved to Sacramento California. The Sacramento Kings continue the Royal tradition, but an NBA championship has eluded them. In retrospect, Cincinnati, like Rochester, was a step along the way for the NBA and professional basketball. The Royals played in Cincinnati when the game of professional basketball was coming of age. The Gardens fit like a royal glove and locals had the good fortune and pleasure to watch hall of famers Jack Twyman, Jerry Lucas and one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Oscar Robertson. It was fun while it lasted and memories will forever remain etched in the history of the Queen City.

1966 NBA ALL STAR GAME HIGHLIGHTS Talking about 1966 All Star MVP, Adrian Smith

Share your memories of the Royals at the Cincinnati Gardens. Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com

Crosstown Hoops

When the Cincinnati Garden opened in 1949 it was a fast break for college basketball. The second opening night at the Garden saw the first game on the Garden's hardwood and the UC Bearcats defeat the Butler Bulldogs 49-44. That game was followed the next evening by the Garden debut of the Xavier Musketeers.  A  crowd of 13,200 watched unranked Xavier (12-8) take on the Wildcats of Kentucky (23-1).  Coached by the legendary Adolph Rupp, the Wildcats were the number one ranked team in the nation.  Xavier kept the game competitive, down just two points at half-time, but the Wildcats pulled away in the second half and won handily, 50-41.  Bill Cady was the leading scorer for the Musketeers with 17 points. Two weeks later both hometown teams were back at the Garden for the Crosstown Shootout.  UC prevailed 57-46 in the first of 42 classics at the Gardens.

The UC Bearcats made the Garden their home court from 1949 to 1954.  They racked up 41 wins and 17 losses by the time they left the Garden in December 1954 for Armory Fieldhouse, their new on-campus home. Decades later they returned to the Gardens for two more seasons (1987-1989) during the construction of Shoemaker Center. Although those two years under coach Tony Yates were mediocre (26 -29,) the Bearcat's fared better at the Gardens with 17 wins and 12 losses.  

In 1982 it became obvious to Xavier University officials that 4,200 seat Schmidt Fieldhouse did not have the capacity to support the long-term needs of the basketball program. With the reopened Gardens available and located less than three miles from campus, the solution was evident.  Xavier's president, Father Charles Currie and Xavier's head coach, Bob Staak, negotiated an arrangement with Garden's owner, Jerry Robinson for Xavier to play league games at the Garden's starting in 1983/84. It was just before the arrival of Jeff Fogelson, Xavier's new athletic director who forged a lasting relationship with the Gardens and was integral to the long-term success of Xavier basketball.

The Cincinnati Gardens holds a special place in Xavier Basketball history. The venue was a catalyst that helped propel basketball program to record heights. Over their 17 years at the Garden's fans were entertained by talented players like Lenny Brown, Michael Davenport, Brian Grant, Tyrone Hill, Byron Larkin, Ralph Lee, James Posey, Derek Strong, Jamal Walker and many more.  Pete Gillen and Skip Prosser coached the Musketeers to national acclaim with ten post season appearances in the NCAA tournament. Xavier's record at the Gardens stands at an impressive 215-25 including a 55-3 run during the last four seasons at the Gardens.  Xavier left the Cincinnati Gardens in 2000 for Cintas Center, their new on-campus home. 

Games Remembered:  

'64 Crosstown Shootout 03/04/1964   Steve Thomas scored a record 45 points for Xavier, but as he drove toward the basket in the final five seconds of the game for a shot to tie the score, he was called for travelling. UC won 94-92. 

'67 Crosstown Shootout 03/03/1967   UC won in overtime 79 to 69.   It was one of the ugliest games in series history. There were 57 fouls, plus an overtime brawl involving Xavier's Joe Pangrazio and UC's Raleigh Wynn that ended with Pangrazio grabbing a crutch from the stands and throwing it at Wynn.  Both players were ejected, and two spectators were injured as fans pelted the court with cups, coins and other debris. "The Crutch Game of 1967" is remembered as the most outrageous incident in the rivalry's history. 

National Invitational Tournament 03/15/1984.   There were plenty of big wins for the Musketeers at the Gardens, but few were as exciting as the 60-57 overtime win over Ohio State.  The 9,715 fans in the stands were pumped-up and the Gardens was rocking.  Xavier's Jeff Jenkins had a career high 30 points including 14 of 14 from the line.   It was a mega upset and a watershed event for Xavier's basketball program.

'90 Crosstown Shootout 1/31/1990. 25th ranked Xavier came from six points down in the final 53 seconds of overtime to spoil the Shootout debut of UC coach Bob Huggins, winning 90 to 88 on a Jamal Walker 3-pointer with seven seconds left.  It was set up by a controversial call when with 17 seconds left, XU was awarded the ball after XU's Michael Davenport knocked the ball from UC's Lou Banks out of bounds; officials ruled it was off Banks. Afterward, Huggins and then-athletic director Rick Taylor chased referee Ken Faulkner off the court.

'94 Crosstown Shootout 01/19/1994  UC Coach Bob Huggins refused to shake Xavier coach, Pete Gillen’s hand after Xavier’s 82-76 overtime defeat of the No. 19 Bearcats in what has become known as the "No Handshake Game."  It  was the first Shootout where both teams were ranked. The game was filled with heated exchanges between the benches and after the buzzer TV cameras caught Huggins refusing to shake hands with Pete Gillen. The resulting uproar had the city buzzing for days.
  

Xavier vs University of Massachusetts 2/05/1996.  The No. 1 and undefeated Minutemen figured they'd show up and silence a raucous Cincinnati Gardens crowd with a showering of three-point baskets and dunks; as UMass forward Donta Bright put it, "beat them by 10 to 15 points." Instead, Xavier, led by former Loyola coach Skip Prosser, out-hustled, outshot and out-executed UMass throughout most of the game, coming within a hair of the biggest upset in college basketball this season.   "We came to win," said Kevin Carr, who led Xavier with 17 points. "We let it slip through our fingers." 

'99 Crosstown Shootout 12/18/1999.  The No.1-ranked UC Bearcats fell Saturday night, their third defeat in the past four Shootouts and the second that it cost them the top ranking in the wire-service polls. Xavier sophomore, Kevin Frey, snapped a tie score on two foul shots with 30 seconds left, then roared past All-American center Kenyon Martin to score again.  It was  XU 66, UC 64 and the fans at the sold out Gardens stormed the court in celebration.  “We got a chance to do something real special,” Xavier's Darnell Williams said, adding, “We had a chance to shock the world."  For the second time in four years the UC Bearcats are No.1 in the nation and No. 2 in the City of Cincinnati. This was the final Shootout at the Cincinnati Gardens. 

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I saw Xavier led by an ambitious coach, Bob Staak, whip up on Ohio State and then Nebraska in 1984 NIT games. It was the first big step for the XU program and their march toward national prominence as a Division 1 basketball program. In following years, there was the Pete Gillen influence and his workmanlike practices. I once took my dad with me to the Gardens on an assignment at a Xavier practice. Gillen took time out to come over and talk to with us. Gillen told stories about a couple of my exploits involving Xavier basketball to get unique photographs. My dad would later say, “That made him proud.” I won’t soon forget Xavier and UMass, a John Calapari-coached team, ranked No.1 at the time and the OT loss in 1996. In 1999 XU would take down a No. 1 ranked University of Cincinnati team. And the unforgettable pregame moment in the XU lock room with head coach Skip Prosser. In his best “Professor Prosser” tone, Prosser knelt with his team and offered depth and perspective on the game of life. Basketball provided the majority of my memories of the Gardens.  Chris Smith, Hoosier Hardwood
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When I retired from the Army, my first stop was the Xavier ticket office. Xavier moved its basketball games from hazy Schmidt Fieldhouse to the Lysol-smelling Cincinnati Gardens to be big time- along the lines of Madison Square Garden and the Boston Gardens.  Quickly, I learned the route to the Cincinnati Gardens and the new home felt immediately comfortable.  Our tickets were mid court, but high up in the seating area.  It didn't matter. This was our window where we watched Xavier's Basketball program grow to a national level.  Paul Fellinger, Cincinnati Magazine, September 2000 

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"It was so exciting," said Byron Larkin about watching from the stands Xavier's 1984 NIT victory over Ohio State. "The place was electric.  It was loud. That was the first college game I had been to with that type of atmosphere. What I saw was that Xavier could not only compete with Ohio State, it could beat them. I watched Ohio State a lot then. When Xavier won, I said, 'Man, I've got to be part of this."  Eight months later Larkin was wearing a Xavier uniform.
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Pete Gillen, Xavier’s head coach from 1985-1994, remembers fondly wild 115-113 win over No. 25 Loyola Marymount in 1990. “The fact that we beat a Top 25 team, that was nice, but the biggest thing was that it was like a shootout at the OK Corral. Jamal Walker scored a driving floater with about 3 seconds to go and we won that game. That to me was unbelievable,” Gillen said.

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"That chill" left a lasting impression on Musketeers coach Chris Mack, a former XU player.“We would have morning shoot-arounds sometimes on the day of the game. You could see your breath. It would be 45 degrees,” Mack said. “That’s probably what I remember most about the place, how difficult it was to really get loose. I can’t imagine what opposing teams felt like and went through.”

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The first thing Skip Prosser knows about the Cincinnati Gardens is that it smells. Not bad, just old. Old and musty. Years of stale beer and salted peanuts, sweat and mildew, like an old basement packed with people.

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A perk of the Gardens was its configuration, said Jeff Fogelson, Xavier AD, 1984-1998. The acoustics were such that a crowd of about 4,000 heightened the atmosphere and made the 10,100-seat arena feel fuller than it was. Fogelson later asked architects to study that format as they prepared plans for Xavier’s current on-campus home, Cintas Center.


Share your memories of college basketball at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com  

House of Hockey

The Cincinnati Garden was born at the ready to serve popcorn, hot dogs and hockey. Its major backers included wealthy concessionaire Louis Jacobs of Buffalo, NY and unnamed Canadians with business and hockey interests. They modeled the new Garden in Cincinnati after the Maple Leaf Gardens, the famous hockey cathedral in Toronto and named Frank Selke, a successful hockey executive as Cincy's General Manager. Selke had boundless energy and for two decades was a driving force in the success of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. There was little doubt of Selke's intention to turn the Queen City into a hockey town. 

On February 22, 1949, grand opening night, the first event at the Garden was of course, a hockey game. A packed house at the Garden ate popcorn and hotdogs as they watched an exhibition between the Montreal Canadians of the National Hockey League and the Dallas Texans, a group of players who would form the nucleus of a new hockey club coming to Cincinnati. It was a momentous night and a great beginning for Cincinnati's hockey barn.

The Cincinnati Mohawks

Cincinnati's first professional hockey team was affiliated with the Montreal Canadians of the NHL. The team premiered in the American Hockey League in October, 1949 playing in the western division against regional rivals; the Cleveland Barons, the Indianapolis Capitals, the St. Louis Flyers and the Pittsburgh Hornets. They skated their first game at the Garden unnamed with players baring question marks on their jersey's. That soon ended when the winner of a fan contest named the upstart club "The Cincinnati Mohawks. Frank Selke brought to town a retired hockey veteran to manage the Mohawks. Francis "King" Clancy lacked management experience, but took the position as a favor to Frank, who he said always treated him well. Frank gave Clancy a two year contract. Clancy did his best, but the Mohawks ended both seasons in last place. When his contract wasn't renewed King was hired by Conn Smythe, legendary owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs to manage their affiliate, the AHL Pittsburgh Hornets. There, Clancy led the Hornets to victory and the Calder Cup. 

Season 3 for the AHL Mohawks was another disappointment. Although they improved to a third place finish, it was a losing season and fan support was dismal. By season's end, financial conditions were such that the three year old hockey club folded. Professional Hockey was seemingly done for at the Gardens. But it wasn't over - quickly, private investors organized and funded a new hockey club they named the Cincinnati Mohawks; new team, same name. By October, the Mohawks were again skating on Garden ice, this time in the International Hockey League.

From the get go, the new Mohawk's hockey club dominated the International League. They benefited by their affiliation with the Montreal Canadians who had an extensive farm system. The Mohawk's ruled the Garden ice against competitors like the Troy Bruins, Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Mercurys and the Grand Rapid's Rockets. Their strength was such that they have been called the greatest minor league hockey team of all-time. Between 1952 and 1958 the Mohawks finished first in the International Hockey League all six seasons and won the Turner Cup Championship five years in a row. NHL notables skating for the Mohawks included Paul Bibeault, Don Marshall and Phil Goyette. 

In June of 1958, to the surprise of many, the Cincinnati Mohawks folded for a second time. It was reported that the Mohawks cost the Gardens an estimated $250,000 over the nine years of operation. Garden executive Thomas Grace told the Cincinnati Enquirer that despite winning six straight championships, the team has been a loser at the gate. "We have a hard core of very loyal hockey fans, but there just aren't enough of them," Grace said. He added that he would like to see Cincinnati in a league of major cities with major playing arenas, which would be feasible from a travel standpoint. "We are not giving up on hockey. What we're doing is giving up hockey in its present status."

Cincinnati Swords

It was a dozen years before another professional hockey opportunity presented itself to the Gardens. The National Hockey League expanded to Buffalo, NY in 1971 and the Cincinnati Swords were formed to serve as a farm club for the NHL Buffalo Sabres. The Swords played in the American Hockey League and skated the Gardens ice from 1971- 1974. The team was outstanding, posting a winning record all three years. In 1973 they dominated the league with a record of 54-17-5 winning the AHL Championship and the Calder Cup. Although attendance at the Gardens was mediocre, the Swords had a loyal fan base and were popular with the media. Their success helped fuel efforts to bring major league hockey to Cincinnati. In 1972, the Swords went so far as to participate in a "We're Ready" promotion led by a group co-chaired by William Dewitt, Jr and Brian Heekin. That group was awarded a franchise by the World Hockey Association in 1975 and they formed the Cincinnati Stingers. The Stingers debuted at Cincinnati's new Riverfront Coliseum and ironically spelled the end for the AHL Swords and professional hockey at the Gardens.

Cincinnati Cyclones

The Stingers left town in 1980 and the Queen City was a decade without a professional hockey team until a group headed by Knoxville businessman Doug Kirchhofer, brought the Cincinnati Cyclones to town. The Clones began skating on Gardens ice in the fall of 1990 playing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). From the beginning the Cyclones had a winning combination of victories on the ice and fans in the stands. They made the play-off's their first year with a record of 37-24. Attendance averaged an impressive 7,696. The Clones marketed their product well, creating an enjoyable fan experience. In their second season the Cyclones continued winning making the semi finals in post season play. Gardens attendance averaged a league high 9,473. In 1992 the team moved to the International Hockey League and experienced their first losing season winning only 27 of 82 games. The Cyclones bounced back the following year and fan support remained strong, In the 1995/96 season the Clones had nine sellouts of the Gardens. Hockey players come and go, but over the years fans at the Gardens became accustomed to watching regulars like Don Biggs, Chris Chchocki, Jeff Greenlaw and Paul Lawless.

In 1997, the Cyclones lease was up at the Gardens and Clones owner, Doug Kirchhofer, saw as an opportunity. Looking to build on the Cyclone's success he formed a group, Cincinnati Entertainment Associates that acquired the 17,000 seat, Riverfront Coliseum. The purchase included a 14 million dollar renovation and renaming the arena "The Crown." Kirchhofer further announced that the Cincinnati Cyclones would make the Crown their new home. After seven exciting, memorable and entertaining seasons at the Gardens, the Cyclones packed up and left.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

When the Cyclones vacated, Gardens owner, Jerry Robinson had but one choice; he scrambled and within months hatched the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey league. The Ducks, affiliates of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim made their Gardens launch on October 5, 1997, facing off against the Kentucky Thoroughblades. That same evening the Cincinnati Cyclones premiered at the newly named Crown, officially making Cincinnati a two-team hockey town. John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer called it "Ice Wars." He described the night as the beginning of a battle between facilities, teams and team owners to determine who would attract sufficient fans to remain in business. Would it be the Crown or the Gardens? The Cyclones or the Ducks? Doug Kirchhofer or Jerry Robinson? Opinions differed, but there was unanimous agreement that there would be only one winner. Jerry Robinson predicted the Gardens and the Mighty Ducks would be victors in two years. Doug Kirchhofer said he could not envision a scenario where the Clones would lose and said the battle would continue as long as Jerry wants it to.

The Mighty Ducks under direction of club President Peter Robinson nestled into their home at the Gardens. Over their first three years the team struggled on the ice finishing each season with a losing record, but they played aggressive hockey and provided fans at the Gardens an entertaining hockey experience. In their fourth season under coach Mike Babcock the Ducks improved, winning 41 games.

In 2001 the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks became winners of the Ice War when the Cyclones folded. Doug Kirchhofer's decision to move the Cyclones to the Cincinnati's riverfront proved disastrous. The Crown, renamed the US Bank Arena filed for bankruptcy and was sold. Doug Kirchhofer left the Queen City and returned home to Tennessee.

The Mighty Ducks ruled the Gardens ice for another four years. During their eight seasons at the Gardens they averaged a respectable 5,000 fans per game. 2005 spelled the end of professional hockey at the Gardens when the Ducks lost their NHL affiliation and Jerry Robinson opted not to secure a replacement team.

Share your memories of hockey at the Cincinnati Gardens. Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com

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The Gardens was the best place to watch a hockey game. Especially on dollar dog and dollar beer night.  The Cyclones especially had that place rocking. The Mighty Ducks not so much, but they played a higher level of hockey than the Cyclones. The US Bank Arena or whatever they're calling it these days is a lousy place to watch a hockey game. Ohiogirl81 2016
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The Cincinnati Gardens was where I discovered hockey in person after watching it on NBC. I fell in love with the Cincinnati Swords in the early to mid 1970s. I learned to play hockey thanks to Hap Myers and John Gould, who were Swords players and ran a hockey school. John was the coolest guy, he spent so much time with me on the ice 1 on 1, Rick Dudley was another player I got to know who tossed me pucks a few times (Duds is now an exec with the Montreal Canadiens.) We never missed a game--we were even there the night of the April 3rd tornadoes in 1974 when one was chewing Elmwood Place up a few blocks away. What a great place for a 10-year old kid to grow up in...great days watching the Swords and playing games in both the main arena and annex all the way through high school. I'll miss that barn. Cyclingwriter 2016 

Derby-Rama

 When the Garden opened in Cincinnati in 1949 Roller Derby was on the rise to national prominence driven by the new medium of broadcast television. TV viewers were mesmerized by the fast paced, around-the-banked track action and the thrills and spills of the competition motivated them to attend the Derby in-person. Over five days in September of 1949 fifty-five thousand came to New York's Madison Square Garden to watch the first Roller Derby World Series. The competition that Leo Seltzer conceived in depression era Chicago had become a media crazed national sensation.

Roller Derby debuted at the Cincinnati Garden in April of 1951. It was the Brooklyn Red Devils captained by Midge "Toughie" Brashun skating against the Chicago Westerners with Annis Jensen at the helm. The Garden series was scheduled for 14 nights, but it's not clear that they skated the full run. Over the years Roller Derby saw it's ups and downs, periodically playing at the Gardens. In the late 1960's the Derby saw a revival when independent television stations needing to fill their programming schedule discovered the spectacle. It was the era of the San Francisco Bay Bombers, the LA Thunderbirds, the New York Chiefs and the Chicago Pioneers. Cincinnati and the Gardens gained a home team in 1971 when the International Roller Derby League expanded.

The Cincinnati Jolters were one of six teams in the league and had a complement of derby regulars including Cliff Butler, Francine Cochu, Ann Calvello, Jerry Cattell, Margie Laszlo and Larry Smith. The Cincinnati team did not fare well financially so after a year they continued as a road unit changing names as the geography dictated. At times they were known as the Ohio Jolters, Columbus Jolters, Pittsburgh Jolters and Southern Jolters. Unfortunately, a bad economy doomed the league and the derby was dissolved in December of 1973.

The beginning of the 21st century saw the roller derby make another comeback with a flat track version of the game played by all female teams. A grass roots, love of the sport movement saw hundreds of teams form world-wide and affiliate with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The Cincinnati Roller Girls, the areas first all-female flat track team assembled in 2005 and made the Cincinnati Gardens their home beginning in 2006.

The Cincinnati Roller Girls, a cooperative with the team owned and operated by the skaters spent a decade at the Gardens. Self characterized as a wonderfully diverse gaggle of humanity.  The so called punk girls were professionals rink rats.  Athletes with descriptive names like SK8 Crime, Mirderher, Cherry Choke, Wheezy, Sailor Scary, Royal T and Miss Print played their sport aggressively to a modest, but loyal Gardens audience. They weren't the biggest draw at the Gardens, but they had a loyal following and were appreciative for the opportunity to call the Gardens home.

The Cincinnati Roller Girls made their final appearance at the Gardens on June, 11, 2016. It was the double header that included the fifth annual Crosstown Knockdown between the CRG Violent Lambs and the Blackouts of the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls. It was also the last event, the curtain call for the 67 year old Cincinnati Gardens.

Garden's Grapplers

The Cincinnati Garden opened during the first Golden Age of professional wrestling, a time when Gorgeous George was a national phenomenon and people honestly debated whether or not wrestling was a sport.  The exploding growth of television propelled the popularity of pro wrestling and once WCPO and WLWT TV began studio production and broadcast of local wrestling shows, no longer would Music Hall or Parkway arena satisfy the local demand for live action.  The new Garden fit the bill and during its first month of operation  hosted two wrestling shows. Attendance was a meager 810 for the first show, an NWA World Heavyweight Title Match, but two weeks later 4,500 came to a Thursday night show and watched The Great Bolo, Al Lovelock and Lou Thesz win the night.

Locally, wrestling was supervised by the Cincinnati Boxing and Wrestling Commission.  As  pro wrestling evolved, the commission wasn't at all prepared for the antics and escapades of the promoters and the men and women grapplers they employed.  Referee's were roughed up, wrestlers fined and sometimes suspended. At one point the commission considered a complete ban on women's matches. City politics and behind the scenes drama was only surpassed by the theatre in the squared circle.

Promoter, Jim Barnett, played a major role in developing pro wrestling in Cincinnati when he met with Cincinnati Gardens General Manager, Alex Sinclair and Executive VP, Tom Grace.  He explained the success he was having with shows in other markets and sold them on his promotional ideas. Garden's management agreed to work with him and Barnett didn't let them down. The Garden's profited nicely from the arrangement and thanked Barnett who also acknowledged the importance of the WCPO wrestling show. Sinclair told the publication Wrestling Life, "We have to thank the televised studio wrestling every week for the big wrestling boom at the Gardens."

By1959 wrestling shows at the Gardens were so popular that the numbers of fans paying to watch favorite grapplers such as Cowboy Bob Ellis and Dick the Bruiser eclipsed those attending Cincinnati Royals basketball games.

Gardens favorites of the 60's and 70's included Flyin Fred Curry, Haystacks Calhoun, Andre The Giant, Bobo Brazil and The Sheik.  Cable TV ushered a new cast of characters to the Gardens in the 80's and 90's including Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude, Rick Flair and Sting.  The last major wrestling show at the Gardens was November 7, 2013 and was broadcast on Spike TV.

Shows Remembered

1953 - May 16th. The third annual Crosley Tournament, sponsored by WLW Television set an attendance record at the Gardens.  The official count of 14,164, topped the prior record set by the Ezzard Charles/Joey Maxim fight. The event was so popular that thousands were turned away at the Garden's gate. The tournament was heavily promoted on WLW-TV which included broadcast of  weekly studio elimination matches. Interest grew steadily over a three month period as sixty participating grapplers were reduced to two finalists; Frankie Talaber and Buddy Rogers. They were the top of the card for show at the Garden's with the winner taking two of three falls. The tournament was televised live over WLW stations in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus and for the first time included lady wrestlers.

Nell Stewart from Arkansas and Ida May Martinez of Mexico topped the women's card. When the bell rang, the enthusiastic crowd watched a hard fought battle eventually won by Stewart, a southern beauty known as the Marilyn Monroe of Women's Wrestling. She won the last fall with a sleeper hold.

Action between the two heavyweights, Frankie Talaber and "Nature Boy," Buddy Roger was fast paced and began with Rogers drop kicking Talaber. The crowd went wild and Rogers ended up winning the first fall with a series of crotch and body lifts. The second fall went to Talaber by way of a grapevine leg scissors. In the end, Nature Boy, Rogers won the men's title taking the third fall by default after Talaber twisted his leg. Both Champions, Buddy Rogers and Nell Stewart were awarded a trophy, a sapphire studded belt and a cash purse; $3,000 to Rogers and $2,000 to Stewart.

1959 - March 7. Legendary promoter Jim Barnett drew a record wrestling crowd of 15,299 to the Garden's. The main event featured a tag team match with Yukon Eric and Wilbur Snyder besting Angelo Poffo and Bronko Lubich. Also on the card, Cowboy Bob Ellis defeated Baron Gattoni, Dick the Bruiser defeated Paul Bunyan, Johnny Weaver defeated Jack Allen and Shirley Strimple defeated Betty Hawkins. It was the fourth largest event in Garden's history.

1959 - April 25. A Saturday night crowd of 8,127 watched the tag team of Dick the Bruiser and Angelo Poffo defeat Yukon Eric and Wilbur Snyder. Ultimately Bruiser was the loser when during the match he leaped from the ring and pulled the wheelchair of a spectator, giving fans the impression that he might hurl the chunk of metal at his opponent. Catherine Brown, a polio victim said she suffered a bruised leg, fear and shock when she was bowled from her wheelchair. She filed a suit for $25,140 in damages against the Cincinnati Gardens, Jim Barnett, the promoter and Dick Afflis, aka Dick The Bruiser. She claimed Afflis is a person of uncontrolled temper and violence and the other defendants knew or should have known because he previously assaulted or threatened other spectators. The suit was settled out of court. Although the Bruiser apologized, the Cincinnati Boxing and Wrestling Commission revoked his license and suspended him indefinitely from making local appearances. In September, The Bruiser told the commission he had learned his lesson and his license was reinstated.

1961 - August 18. Buddy Rogers took the first and third falls from The Sheik to retain his recently-won NWA World Title. For many who were there, it was the first time they had seen The Sheik lose. Ironically, the attendance for this Friday night card was less than half of capacity. The card included grapplers Bobo Brazil, Johnny Barend and the tag team of brothers Art and Stan Neilson.

2013 - November 7.  TNAW Impact Wrestling took over the Gardens. This polished production for Spike TV saw full metal mayhem and featured Dixie and Ethan Carter III, Bad Influence, Aces and Eights. The woman's knockout match featured OBD, Brooke and Velvet Sky. Kurt Angle and Austin Aries faced off in the Heavyweight Quarter Final. Cincinnati Bengals players Dequin Evans and Pacman Jones joined a brawl against Bad Influence.