Hara Arena Historic Dayton Concert And Event Venue Destroyed In 2019

July 6, 2020

In May 2019, a series of tornadoes struck various areas of Dayton, Ohio. The hardest-hit areas were Trotwood and Harrison Township. One of the largest structures to sustain damage was Hara Arena, the event and concert venue in Trotwood, Ohio. Hara, to many, was the hottest concert and event venue in Dayton for decades. It hosted some of the biggest names in the USA such as The Rolling Stones as well as shows like Bill Goodman’s Gun and Knife Show. It sat vacant and destroyed for months while the owners dealt with insurance and permits for redevelopment plans.

As a kid, I went to Hara for many things. Ice Capades, Bill Goodman’s Knife Show, and the home and garden show, just to name a few. I never loved it. It smelled old and was always very outdated. My kind of venue was the Nutter Center. For many though, Hara was home to their very best concert memories.

Photographing Hara Arena Concert Venue

After the tornado damage, I thought it would be incredible to document this historic Dayton concert venue. I found the email address of the owner and made contact. We agreed on a date and time for me to photography Hara Arena. This was only 3 months into Covid, so I was masked up for this adventure. Due to the tornadoes, the entire building was open to the elements. So, the risk of getting Covid was very small even when talking with the owner.

On June 17th, 2020 I photographed this epic Dayton property legally with permission. I spent 45 minutes roaming around the historic arena as well as the conference and exhibition center. When I entered the exhibition area, I was immediately transported to all the home and garden shows I attended as a kid. The same was true when walked up the steps into the main arena. It was as if I could smell the floor or ice for the Ice Capades. It was surreal.

Below are just a few of the history-capturing images I made. This will be the last time I visit Hara Arena before it is demolished and gone forever. See a destroyed and abandoned concert venue, arena, and event center for the last time. Check out my other Dayton commercial photography.