Hertz Arena

Hertz Arena is a 7,181-seat multi-purpose arena located in Estero, Florida. The arena opened in November 1998 and serves as the home of the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

History
The arena was first named Everblades Arena in 1998 after the hockey team that played there. TECO Energy was the first company to obtain the naming rights to the building, changing the name to TECO Arena. In 2004, TECO Energy decided they were no longer interested in holding the naming rights. Germain Motor Company bought the rights, and in 2004 the venue was renamed to Germain Arena. This same company, an automobile dealership with locations in Florida, Arkansas, and Ohio, also held the naming rights to the Germain Amphitheater in Columbus, Ohio. In September 2018, The Hertz Corporation, an Estero-based company, bought the naming rights for the arena and it was renamed Hertz Arena on October 1. The company is also petitioning the city to repaint the arena bright yellow with black accents to match their branding. In August of 2019, the Hoffmann family entered into an agreement to purchase both the arena and sports team as part of their plan to expand the entertainment segment in SWFL. Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate is the largest individual property owner in Naples.

Tenants
The arena has been used as a multipurpose venue, primarily hosting the Florida Everblades ECHL ice hockey team and the Florida Tarpons indoor football team. It was also the home for the Florida Flame NBA Development League team and the Florida Firecats Arena Football League 2 (af2) team. Additionally, the venue has hosted various concerts, circuses, boxing, mixed martial arts events, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling shows, WWE shows and Professional Bull Riders events.

The arena is also home to the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles club hockey team of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). In March 2006 and March 2010, the facility hosted the Division 3 ACHA National Championships and in March 2008 the Division 2 ACHA National Championships.

Starting in December 2000, the arena has been host to an annual college hockey tournament, originally known as the Everblades College Classic, now called the Florida College Hockey Classic. This four-team tournament is hosted by the University of Maine Black Bears and the Cornell University Big Red, and two other teams are invited each year. The winner is awarded the Ned Harkness Cup.