Adirondack Bank Center

the UticaMemorial Auditoriumwas designated as a National HistoricCivil Engineering Landmarkby the American Societyof Civil Engineers in recognition of its innovative cable suspended roof. Dedicated to thememoryof area veterans and the wars inwhich they served,theAud opened inMarch 1960,and it was,at the time,one of only three arenas worldwide that had completelyunobstructed views with no support pillars to see around.Over the years, theAud served as a skating rinkand events center, hosting various semi-professional,college,and high school hockey teams,professional boxing andwres- tling,exhibition basketball,cheerleading and gym- nastics competitions,and big namemusical acts and shows such as the Grateful Dead,Bruce Springsteen, theHarlemGlobetrotters,Monster Trucks,and the Ice Capades.In 1977,scenes from themovie,Slap Shot, starring Paul Newman,were filmed there. THE ADIRONDACK BANK CENTER The Cityof Utica operated theAud until 1996,when it was sold to the Upper MohawkValleyMemorial AuditoriumAuthority,a state-appointed bodycharged with determining policyand overseeing the operation of the facility.Unfortunately,over the next several years, theAud continued to deteriorate,and in 2013,the Authority signed a six-year deal with Esche’s company, MohawkValleyGarden,tomanage the auditoriumand bookall future events,replacing the former operating company,Venue Services.“When our companycame in, theAudwas in a veryweak state,”he recalls.“It pretty much sat dormant for 16 years; therewasn’t a lot that was done to the facility,itself,and it was ready to shut the doors within 18months.” With $10million promised by the State of New York for facilityupgrades,Eschewas able to entice the Peoria Rivermen,theAHL farm teamof theNational HockeyLeague’sVancouver Canucks,to relocate and