War Memorial Auditorium, Sports and music venue in Fort Lauderdale, United States.
FTL War Memorial is a 3,400-seat multi-purpose arena, convention center, and ice hockey and skating complex in Fort Lauderdale. Its Baptist Health IcePlex holds two sheets of ice, the SeatGeek Rink and Baptist Health Rink, with locker rooms and skate rentals. The Federal restaurant and bar and Pantherland team store are on site, along with Florida Panthers offices and rehabilitation facilities.
The auditorium was founded in 1950 to honor World War II veterans. From 1951 to 1987, it served as a regular venue for professional wrestling events with Championship Wrestling from Florida.
The arena's wrestling tradition ran from 1951 to 1987 with Championship Wrestling from Florida cards, followed by Ladies Major League Wrestling tapings in 1990 and UWF Fury Hour in 1991. Boxing nights date to 1950, and Mickey Rourke made his professional debut here in 1991. Today the Baptist Health IcePlex hosts Panthers watch parties, open practices, curling and learn-to-skate programs.
The Baptist Health IcePlex opened to the public in early 2024 with two sheets of ice, the SeatGeek Rink and the Baptist Health Rink, plus locker rooms and skate rentals. The Federal restaurant and bar and Pantherland, the Panthers team store and pro shop, are on site. The concert venue was set to reopen in late 2024 or early 2025 after Stage Two of the renovation.
The facility serves as a training location for the Florida Panthers professional hockey team, and visitors can watch the players during practice sessions. This offers fans a chance to see professional athletes up close as they prepare for competition.
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