Aurora Community Centre - Aurora Tigers
- Dave Cottenie
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Aurora Community Centre
1 Community Centre Lane
Aurora, Ontario
Year Opened: 1966
Capacity: 1,344
Welcome To The Jungle
In 1953 the Aurora Bears were founded as members of the Metro Junior B Hockey League. Over the years a number of things changed in Aurora, a town north of Toronto. The team rebranded to the Aurora Tigers in 1967 and in 1985 the Tigers made the jump to Junior A. The failure of the Junior A league sent the Tigers back down to Junior B and another rebrand to become the Aurora Eagles. In 1996, the current iteration of the team was formed when they settled on the Aurora Tigers as their moniker and they moved to the OPJHL the following year. The OPJHL became the current OJHL and the Tigers have enjoyed great success. They are currently owned by Jim Thomson and boast Buckland Cup Championships and RBC Cup Championships as OJHL and National Champions respectively, in 2004 and 2007.
The home for the Tigers is the Aurora Community Centre. Built by the Town of Aurora in 1966, the ACC was part of the Centennial Project and eventually morphed from a single rink to a community hub with another rink and meeting rooms.
Food & Beverage 2
In the north rink there is a small concession on the east side of the arena. The menu is fairly limited, consisting of hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi products, Gatorade, water, chips, chocolate bars, candy and beef patties. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and French Vanilla are also available. In the lobby, there are also a couple of vending machines.
Atmosphere 4
The exterior of the Aurora Community Centre shows two separate rinks joined by a breezeway. The north rink is the home of the Tigers. The exterior features brown brick on the bottom with light siding at the top and green trim. The exterior does not give away the 1966 birthday of the original rink. Entering the community centre gives fans an old school feel. A small box office booth is found in the entry and is highlighted by dark brown brick which totally changes the feel from the exterior. Upon entry fans are greeted with a number of minor hockey team pictures and trophy cases. Pictures of local NHL alumni Bob Wall and Rick Hampton can be found here. A number of Aurora Tigers team pictures and artifacts can be found in the lobby, so a little exploring is definitely appropriate. Fans will then ascend the stairs to the upper level where entry to the arena can be found.
Inside the arena, fans are taken back in time. The ice surface in the arena is north-south oriented and the best spot for a picture of the centre ice logo is from the west side. Seating consists of five rows of wooden “love” seats with a walkway behind the seating, under a peaked roof with massive wooden support beams. Aurora Tiger championship banners hang on the west side of the arena and include division titles, the 2004 and 2007 Buckland Cups and 2004 and 2007 Royal Bank Cups. Fans are protected with netting around the entire ice surface. The arena is well kept and it is clear that a fresh coat of paint was applied in the not-too-distant past. The arena gives vibes that are old, but not dirty, which is perfect.
The gameday production at the Aurora Tigers is very simple. The speaker system is good and it is easy to hear announcements. There are plenty of ads on Tiger uniforms, akin to European hockey teams. There were no promos, however, the game that was reviewed was a school-day game, so there may be promotions for a regular game.
Neighbourhood 3
Aurora Community Centre is located in the Aurora Heights neighborhood of Aurora. There are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink. Some options include Coop’s Aurora Bistro, Orchid Thai, Grill Gate, TJ’s Bar and Grill and Wicket Eats. As far as other sports go, the Tigers are the only game in town, but do have close rivalries with the King Rebellion and Markham Royals. Otherwise, heading south to Toronto will offer a ton of sports options. Other tourist options in Aurora include the Aurora Historical Society / Hillary House, Aurora Arboretum and Canadian Moments Mural. For fans who wish to stay in the area, the Holiday Inn Express Aurora is not far from the Aurora Community Centre.
Fans 2
Fans are a bit challenging to assess in the OJHL as the league does not congregate and publish attendance statistics. As of this writing, the Aurora Tigers averaged 118 fans per game in the 2024-25 season. That ranks them 17th in the league. The previous season, the Tigers averaged approximately the same per game.
Access 3
The Aurora Community Centre is located in the Aurora Heights neighbourhood in Aurora, which is north of Toronto. It is 9 km east of Highway 400 and 5.5 km west of Highway 404, one block west of Yonge Street. Getting to the arena is not that difficult. There is plenty of free parking on site. For fans who wish to take public transit to the game, there are bus stops on Yonge Street. Fans should consult the York Region Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Getting around the Aurora Community Centre is not too difficult, however, the arena is an older building and it may be a bit of a challenge to get to the top of the arena. The older, wooden seating does not provide the most comfortable experience. The washrooms are small but adequate for the number of fans that take in a Tigers game. Aurora Tigers games are cash only, which may be an issue for some.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for the Aurora Tigers are a bit on the expensive side for the OJHL. Adult tickets are $18 and available at the door for cash only. Discounts are available for seniors and kids. Concession prices are good and parking on site is free. The product on the ice is solid and fans will definitely enjoy catching a game in an old school hockey barn.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the School Day event, which was on the day of this review. The Tigers offer a number of dates for school classes to attend each year.
An extra mark for the memorial pictures of Aurora minor hockey players who have passed. They can be found in the lobby.
An extra mark for the on-ice success that the Aurora Tigers have enjoyed.
Final Thoughts
Taking in an Aurora Tigers game allows hockey fans to step back in time and enjoy an old-time hockey facility that has been maintained well. The Tigers are a good experience and the Aurora Community Centre has plenty to explore. Welcome to the jungle!
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