History
The building opened on October 18, 1892, as a drill hall and later became an arena; an artificial ice plant was installed in 1935 for the IHL's Rochester Cardinals. The Rochester Royals played there from 1945 to 1955 and won the 1951 NBA championship over the New York Knickerbockers.
The Royals moved to the Rochester War Memorial, and after the Monroe County Fair left in 1957 the arena was demolished. Baseball fields now occupy the site.
Why it matters: Home of the 1951 NBA champion Rochester Royals.
Timeline
- October 18, 1892Building opens[1]
The building opened as a drill hall for a training school.
- 1935Ice plant installed[1]
An artificial ice-making system was installed.
- April 21, 1951Royals win NBA title[1]
The Royals beat the New York Knickerbockers 4 games to 3 for the NBA championship.
- 1957County fair leaves[1]
The Monroe County Fair moved to Henrietta; the building was demolished shortly afterward.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Baseball fields behind the Rochester International Academy[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Rochester Cardinals | IHL · 1935–1936 |
|---|---|
| Rochester Royals | NBL/BAA/NBA · 1945–1955 |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | Rochester, New York |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey |
| Level | NBA, BAA, NBL, IHL |
| Opened | October 18, 1892[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1956[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 4,200[1] |
| Capacity notes | Basketball 4,200; hockey 3,500. |
Documented details
- The Rochester Royals played here from 1945 to 1955 and returned for several games in 1955-56.[1]
Sources
- Edgerton Park Arena, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia's infobox gives a 1956 closing; its text says the building was demolished shortly after the county fair left in 1957.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.