The Frankenmuth Credit Union Event Center (Formerly Birch Run Expo Center) was a 2,500 seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

Birch Run, Michigan Birch Run is a village in Saginaw County, Michigan, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,553 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The village is located within Birch Run Township, Michigan, Birch Run Township ...

. However, it is now closed and has been sold to Camping World as one of their largest showrooms. Prior to 2002, it was the first

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

Skate center. Due to lack of interest, it was converted into its present form. It was also the home of the

Great Lakes Storm The Great Lakes Storm was a basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association for three seasons, beginning in 2002 and ending in 2005. They were based in Birch Run, Michigan, a small town between Flint and Saginaw Saginaw () ...

from 2002 to 2005. It is now used for trade shows, conventions and other events, such as gun and knife shows and music festivals. It was operated by

Oak View Group OVG Oak View Group, LLC is an American Global Advisory, Development and Investment Company for Sports and Live Entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, it was formed on November 16, 2015 by Tim Leiweke and his business partner, Irving Azoff ...

Facilities until 2020, when it was sold to

Camping World Camping World Holdings, Inc. is an American corporation specializing in selling recreational vehicles (RVs), recreational vehicle parts, and recreational vehicle service. They also sell supplies for camping. The company has its headquarters in L ...

History

Built in 1997, the NHL opened the first of 100 planned local

hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...

arenas on September 11, 1997 to help promote interest in skating and hockey. Built by SAI Structural, the original facility included two hockey rinks, eight themed locker rooms, family attractions, a food court, and an NHL FANtasy Zone. By mid-1998, the facility in Birch Run had seen nearly a quarter of a million people since the grand opening. However, by late 1999 the center and the whole "NHL Skate" concept was facing financial difficulties and closed in 2000.

References

Indoor arenas in Michigan Sports venues in Michigan Convention centers in Michigan Buildings and structures in Saginaw County, Michigan Event venues established in 1997 1997 establishments in Michigan Sports venues completed in 1997 Continental Basketball Association venues {{Michigan-sports-venue-stub