Wow This spot is amazing. It’s hard to believe a bustling boxing arena once stood here. Right where this Wendy’s is.
This is the site of the Sunnyside Garden Arena a legendary Queens landmark. It hosted thrilling boxing matches wrestling roller derby and even kickboxing. From the 1940s until its closure in 1977 it was a vibrant hub of sporting excitement.
Imagine the roar of the crowd the thud of fists the energy of the athletes. Emile Griffith and Gerry Cooney two boxing greats fought here. Even actor Tony Danza stepped into the ring. The 2000-seat arena was a launching pad for many New York fighters. Before moving on to bigger venues like Madison Square Garden.
The building’s history goes back further than its boxing days. It started as a private tennis club in the 1920s. Some say it was the personal tennis court of millionaire Jay Gould II. This impressive red brick arena had two parallel gables. A large neon sign and a clock above the main entrance. It truly was a sight to behold.
The Sunnyside Garden Arena wasn’t just about sports. It played host to political rallies. John F Kennedy held a campaign rally here in 1960. Robert F Kennedy also rallied here in his 1964 senatorial campaign. The arena’s fights were even televised on Channel 5. Keeping the arena alive in an era when many others were closing.
Unfortunately by the early 1970s interest in boxing waned. The last show was on June 24 1977. The building was demolished later that year. A Wendy’s now stands in its place.
But the legacy of the Sunnyside Garden Arena lives on. A monument stands here now. It honors the fighters who battled in this ring. This plaque ensures that Sunnyside Garden Arena will never be forgotten. A reminder of the electrifying energy that once filled this very spot.