Aréna Jacques Plante, Sports arena in Shawinigan, Canada
The Aréna Jacques Plante is a sports arena in Shawinigan with a capacity of around 3,700 seats, including over 2,500 permanent fixed seats throughout the building. It sits next to the newer Centre Bionest and has hosted various sporting events and gatherings.
Built in 1937 and 1938 to plans by architect Jules Caron, the building was known as the Shawinigan Municipal Auditorium until 1994, when it was renamed in honour of Jacques Plante. It served as the home of the Shawinigan Cataractes until it closed on 18 December 2008, after a ceremony during which Plante's banner was lowered. The last game played there ended in a 3-2 loss to the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
The building was renamed in honour of Jacques Plante, the goaltender who won six Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens. On 18 December 2008, a ceremony lowered his banner from the rafters before the Cataractes lost 3-2 to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the arena's final game.
The arena closed on 18 December 2008, so it cannot be visited as a sports venue; since 2012 the building has housed offices, including those of the Agence du revenu du Québec. It stands beside the Centre Gervais Auto (formerly Centre Bionest) that replaced it. The building is owned by the city of Shawinigan and was sold to Olymbec in January 2012.
The arena's last game, on 18 December 2008, ended in a 3-2 loss for the Shawinigan Cataractes against the Drummondville Voltigeurs; during the closing ceremony Jacques Plante's banner was lowered. The building then served as a warehouse until Olymbec bought it in January 2012 to convert it into offices, including those of the Agence du revenu du Québec.
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