What was the nickname of Walter Gretzky's backyard rink?

Walter Gretzky’s backyard rink was nicknamed Wally Coliseum. Walter built the outdoor rink at the family’s home in Brantford, Ontario, giving Wayne and his siblings a place to skate and practise through the winter.

The rink became a crucial part of Gretzky’s development. Walter marked the ice with lines and set out bleach bottles as stickhandling obstacles, while Wayne spent countless hours handling the puck and playing with family members and neighbourhood children. Gretzky later said that much of his hockey education happened in that backyard.

The name was a playful reference to Walter’s first name and the grand scale of the facility in the children’s imagination. It was not an official arena, and it should not be confused with Maple Leaf Gardens or the former Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.

The rink’s story also explains why Walter is remembered as more than a famous player’s father. He coached, organized games and created structured practice routines that helped turn informal backyard skating into deliberate skill development. The family’s nickname is commonly written as either “Wally Coliseum” or “Wally’s Coliseum.”