Ontario Series Lacrosse Arena Series - Iroquois Lacrosse Arena

As we draw closer to the start of the season, the Ontario Series Lacrosse League is proud to begin a special weekly feature highlighting the teams that make our league so competitive — and the arenas they call home.

The History and Legacy of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena

By Gary Groob 

In the heart of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory sits a building that represents far more than boards, turf, and seating. The Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA), located in Hagersville, Ontario, is one of the most significant lacrosse venues in Canada — not just for its championships, but for what it symbolizes.

Built for the Creator’s Game

Opened in 2004, the ILA was constructed with a singular purpose: lacrosse. Unlike most Canadian arenas that are built primarily for hockey and adapted for box lacrosse, the ILA was designed specifically for the sport that the Haudenosaunee people have played for centuries — the “Creator’s Game.”
The arena was spearheaded by former lacrosse standouts Curt Styres and Delby Powless, who envisioned a permanent home dedicated to growing the sport within the Six Nations community. Their goal was simple yet powerful: create opportunity. Before the arena’s construction, only a small number of local players advanced to professional lacrosse. In the years that followed, that number grew dramatically.
With a seating capacity of approximately 2,300 — expandable to around 3,000 for major events — the ILA quickly became one of the most electric lacrosse environments in the country.

A Championship Venue

The ILA serves as home to some of Canada’s most storied lacrosse franchises:
• The Six Nations Chiefs (Major Series Lacrosse), perennial Mann Cup contenders and multiple-time national champions.
• The Six Nations Rivermen, a two time President's Cup champion
• The Six Nations Arrows, one of the premier Junior A programs in Ontario and multiple Minto Cup champions.
• The Six Nations Rebels Junior B.
• The Six Nations Warriors Junior C.
• The Six Nations Snipers of the ALL
Over the years, the building has hosted marquee events including the 2006 Minto Cup and multiple Presidents Cup national championships, drawing fans from across Canada to Six Nations territory.
For visiting teams, the ILA is known as one of the toughest rinks to play in. The atmosphere is intense, passionate, and deeply rooted in tradition.

More Than a Building

What separates the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena from many facilities across the country is its year-round dedication to lacrosse. Without an ice plant, the arena operates as a true lacrosse-first venue, allowing for constant development programs, youth leagues, tournaments, and community events.
The ILA is not just home to elite players — it is where young boys and girls first pick up a stick. It is where families gather. It is where culture and competition meet.
The arena has also played a role in expanding opportunities in the women’s game, hosting historic women’s box lacrosse events and contributing to the growth of Indigenous participation at all levels.

A Lasting Impact

Since its opening, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena has helped produce generations of players who have gone on to compete in Major Series Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League, and beyond. More importantly, it has strengthened the connection between sport and community at Six Nations.
For many, stepping inside the ILA is stepping into a living piece of lacrosse history.
It stands as a testament to the Haudenosaunee roots of the game, to the vision of its founders, and to the enduring spirit of lacrosse on Six Nations territory.
And on any given summer night, when the stands are packed and the floor echoes with the sound of sticks and cheers, and drumming echoing from the stands, it remains exactly what it was meant to be — a home for the Creator’s Game.