The Arena

The ECW Arena, otherwise known as the New Alhambra Arena is a former bingo hall and current multi-purpose venue used primarily for boxing and professional wrestling events. The venue has a capacity of 1,131 for boxing and professional wrestling. It is located in South Philadelphia on the corner of Ritner Street and Swanson Street.

History
Originally called Viking Hall, the building was used for rehearsals by the local Philadelphia chapter of mummers. Through the mid 1990s, it also served as a bingo parlor.

The building gained popularity when it served as the ECW Arena, home of professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1993 until the promotion's demise in 2001.

The building's name was officially changed to New Alhambra Arena in 2004.

Following the demise of Extreme Championship Wrestling, many wrestling promotions ran shows at the venue. Controversy arose when Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) signed an exclusive lease with the venue in late 2002, preventing other promotions from using the building. XPW went out of business in 2003, and the lease was voided.

The facility is today home to regional professional wrestling and boxing promotions. It has been frequented by Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) since 2001. It became home to Wrestle Factory in 2005, the wrestling school for Chikara Pro Wrestling.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promoted a card at the Arena on June 9, 2006. It featured much of TNA's talent, which included several ECW alumni.

The revived Extreme Championship Wrestling, now a World Wrestling Entertainment brand, returned on June 24, 2006 for the first ECW Arena card since December 2000.

Hardcore Hall of Fame
Banners and frames all over the building commemorating the careers of these former ECW and CZW competitors are permanently on display in the arena:


 * Rocco Rock (inducted during Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling show in 2002)
 * Zandig (Inducted during Combat Zone Wrestling's 5th annv show in 2004)
 * LOBO (Inducted during Combat Zone Wrestling's 6th annv show in 2005)
 * Nick Mondo (Inducted during Combat Zone Wrestling's 7th annv show in 2006)
 * Terry Funk (inducted during Hardcore Homecoming show in 2005)
 * The Sandman (inducted during Pro Wrestling Unplugged show in 2007)
 * Johnny Grunge (inducted during Pro Wrestling Unplugged show in 2007)
 * Tod Gordon (To Be Inducted during a Combat Zone Wrestling Show in 2008)

Wrestling promotions
Active


 * 2001-2008 - Combat Zone Wrestling (60 shows)
 * Plans through 2008 to run shows the 2nd Saturday of every month
 * 2006-2008 - Pro Wrestling Unplugged (17 shows)
 * Plans through 2008 to run shows the 3rd Saturday of every month
 * 2005-2008 - Chikara Pro Wrestling (14 shows)
 * 2002-2007 - Women's Extreme Wrestling (8 shows)
 * 2005-2006 - Jersey All Pro Wrestling (2 shows)
 * 2006 - Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2 shows)
 * 2005-2007 - IWA Mid-South (2 shows)
 * 2006 - Ring of Honor (1 show)
 * 2006 - World Wrestling Entertainment (1 show)
 * 2005 - International Wrestling Syndicate (1 show)

Defunct


 * 1993-2000 - Extreme Championship Wrestling (109 shows)
 * 1999 - Steel City Wrestling (1 show)
 * 2002-2005 - Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling (32 shows)
 * 2002-2003 - Xtreme Pro Wrestling (7 shows)
 * 2001 - Main Event Championship Wrestling (1 show)
 * 2002 - Major League Wrestling (1 show)
 * 2005 - Hardcore Homecoming (2 shows)
 * 2006 - Pro Wrestling Xplosion (1 show)