CAMBRIA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL ARENA

1950-present

The ‘War Memorial of Greater Johnstown' was chartered in May, 1943, as a non-profit corporation.  The name was changed in March, 1946 to the ‘Cambria County War Memorial' in line with broadening its filed of operation to include all of Cambria County.

 

Ground breaking was held October 31, 1949, with work proceeding through the winter.  Completion of all work save finishing details made it possible to present the Ice Capades, as the opening attraction, to three capacity crowds on October 16^th and 17^th, 1950.

 

The Cambria County War Memorial has been in operation since October 16, 1950.  The Arena is the outgrowth of the initiative of the Johnstown Lions Club, under whose sponsorship representatives of 50-odd civic organizations dedicated themselves early in World War II to support the idea of a war memorial.  There was much deliberation on the important subject of what form the memorial should take.  Those holding the view that it should be a practical memorial, with a useful purpose, won strong support.  The committee decided an indoor sports arena was a great need in the community.

 

In 2002 a 16.2 million-dollar grant from the commonwealth was approved for an entertainment complex in downtown Johnstown.  As part of the grant, the Cambria County War Memorial Arena has undergone an 8-million-dollar renovation.  Renovations included new seating, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, dasher boards, an elevator to the second floor, and general building enhancements.  The project was completed in August 2003.

 

The Cambria County War Memorial Arena is now in its 55^th year of service to the community.  The arena has housed over 5 million visitors to its many faceted performances, sports, and promotional events.  And serves as home to the Johnstown Chiefs hockey team and the Johnstown Riverhawks football team.