United Supermarkets Arena (previously the United Spirit Arena) is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The 15,098-seat arena opened in 1999 and is home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball, Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball and Texas Tech Red Raiders women's volleyball teams.
History
The City of Lubbock proposed replacing the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum with a new arena named after Buddy Holly. The proposed Buddy Holly Arena was to be located next to the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Downtown Lubbock, not on the Texas Tech University campus. A public referendum for a tax increase to build the arena failed to pass by as few as 600 votes. Texas Tech decided to move construction to an on campus facility with private donations on the university's campus.
The arena was financed from a $500 million fundraising endeavor undertaken by John T. Montford, the first chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Ground breaking began on March 26, 1997. The arena opened on October 1, 1999, at a cost of $62.775 million.
Design
The arena features a Spanish Renaissance exterior facade, matching architectural style of the rest of the Texas Tech University campus. Architects for the project included Joe D. Mckay AIA Architects, and Rosser International. Hill International was the project manager, and the general contractor was Centex Construction Co.
Standing at the southeast entrance of the arena is the 8-story Victory Tower. At 96 feet (29Â m), Victory Tower is the 16th tallest structure in Lubbock.
Naming rights
Lubbock-based supermarket chain United Supermarkets purchased the naming rights to the facility under a 20-year, $10 million naming rights agreement with Texas Tech University in 1996. Until 2014, the arena was known as United Spirit Arena. Following a 10-year, $9.45 million naming rights extension, the arena was renamed United Supermarkets Arena. Funds from the 10-year naming rights extension will go towards facility renovations.
Usage
Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball
- The first basketball game was played in the arena on November 19, 1999. Texas Tech Red Raiders lost 68â€"60 to the Indiana Hoosiers, coached by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bob Knight, who would later become the head coach of Red Raiders basketball team.
- On January 1, 2007, a 70â€"68 defeat of the New Mexico Lobos by the Texas Tech Red Raiders marked the 880th total win for Bob Knight, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history.
- A Big 12 Conference record for student attendance was set February 25, 2014 against Kansas State.
NCAA Tournaments
- NCAA Division I Women's Basketball First and Second Rounds: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2013
Other
- Elton John's performance on February 8, 2000 was the first concert to be held at United Supermarkets Arena.
- In the summer of 2002, Britney Spears brought her Dream Within a Dream Tour to the arena. After the second song, "(You Drive Me) Crazy", a power outage occurred and the rest of the concert had to be canceled. Spears, along with her tour manager, came onstage to explain the situation to the sold out crowd. Due to Spears being overbooked for the entire tour, there was no time to reschedule the concert.
- United Supermarkets Arena hosted WWE Raw (the first Raw ever to be hosted in Lubbock) in May 2006.
- On May 4, 2007, the Houston Comets with former Lady Raiders Sheryl Swoopes and Erin Grant played a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) exhibition game against the Detroit Shock with Plenette Pierson, also a former Lady Raider.
- In 2008, Champions on Ice made its United Supermarkets Arena debut, having moved over from City Bank Coliseum. At the same time, Cirque du Soleil made its first Lubbock-area appearance.
- On October 14, 2011, Taylor Swift made her first ever appearance at the United Supermarkets Arena with her Speak Now World Tour. Tickets for the show were sold out within twenty minutes after going on sale, the fastest sell-out in United Supermarkets Arena history.
- On January 18, 2013, the United Supermarkets Arena hosted the first show in the final live tour of George Strait. He was supported by Martina McBride.
- On March 17, 2013, Bon Jovi played the arena in what may possibly be Richie Sambora's last concert with the band
- Paul McCartney played at the United Supermarkets Arena on October 2, 2014 as part of his Out There tour, having postponed his initial show date of June 14 due to illness.
- In January of 2017 it was announced that Garth Brooks would play a show at the United Supermarkets Arena as part of his world tour with Trisha Yearwood. The show sold out and 4 more shows shows were added, all of which sold out which were held between March 30-April 2, 2017.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
References
External links
- Official Website
- United Spirit Arena - Texas Tech Athletics
- Pictures Website