Tucson Convention Center
{{Short description|Convention center in Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox convention center
| logo = File:Tucson_Convention_Center.jpg
| logo_size = 150px
| image_caption = Tucson Arena at the Tucson Convention Center
| image = File:Tucson May 2019 22 (Tucson Arena at the Tucson Convention Center).jpg
| location = Downtown Tucson
| renovated = 1987, 2014
| coordinates = {{coord|32|13|6|N|110|58|27|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label = Tucson Convention Center
| former_names = Tucson Community Center {{small|(1971-2002)}}
| address = {{nowrap|260 S Church Ave}}
| owner =
| operator = ASM Global
| built = 1971
| opened =
| inaugurated =
| expanded = 1988
| closed =
| demolished =
| construction_cost =
| classroom_cap =
| banquets = 1,200 {{small|(Grand Ballroom)}}
| theatre = 8,962 {{small|(Tucson Arena)}}
2,289 {{small|(Tucson Music Hall)}}
551 {{small|(Linda Rondstadt Theater)}}
| total_space = {{convert|205000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| exhibit = {{convert|113940|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| breakout = {{convert|10640|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| ballroom = {{convert|20164|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| website =
| publictransit = {{rint|tram|1}} Tucson Sun Link
at Granada/Cushing
| pushpin_map = Arizona#USA
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Arizona##Location within the United States
| tenants = Arizona Wildcats (NCAA) 1980–present
Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) (2016–present)
Tucson Sugar Skulls (IFL) (2019–present)
}}
The Tucson Convention Center (previously named the Tucson Community Center) is a multi-purpose convention center located in downtown Tucson, Arizona. Built in 1971, the location includes an 8,962-seat indoor arena, two performing arts venues, and {{convert|205000|sqft|m2}} of meeting space. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Performance venues
- The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, with 2,289 seats, is used for concert performances, including opera. Known originally as the Tucson Music Hall, it was renamed in honor of Tucson native Linda Ronstadt in 2022.{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2022 |author=Kelly Presnell|title=The Tucson Music Hall renamed for Grammy and Emmy Award winner Linda Ronstadt |url=https://tucson.com/news/local/photos-the-tucson-music-hall-renamed-for-grammy-and-emmy-award-winner-linda-ronstadt/collection_0ac716ea-ce7f-11ec-b585-6f12cad9c54f.html |work=The Arizona Daily Star |access-date=May 8, 2022 }}
- Leo Rich Theater, with 511 seats, is used for small scale and more intimate performances.
- Tucson Arena, with maximum capacity of 8,962. In the 200 seating series, total capacity is 4,988, 100 series total capacity is 2,724 and the floor capacity is 1,250. Standard hockey capacity is 6,521.{{Cite web|url=http://tucsonconventioncenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Space-Configurations.pdf|title=TCC Space Configurations|date=2017-06-06|website=TucsonConventionCenter.com|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420033153/http://tucsonconventioncenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Space-Configurations.pdf|archive-date=2017-04-20|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-06-06}}
= Tucson Roadrunners =
Beginning from the fall of 2016, Tucson Arena has been home to the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League.{{cite web | url=http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=879403 | title=Coyotes Sign Agreement to Purchase Springfield Falcons AHL Franchise | publisher=Arizona Coyotes | date=April 19, 2016 | access-date=May 18, 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://theahl.com/bog-conditionally-approves-coyotes-purchase-p202491 | title=BOG conditionally approves Coyotes' purchase | publisher=American Hockey League | work=TheAHL.com | date=May 10, 2016 | access-date=May 18, 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-council-approves-deal-with-coyotes-for-ahl-hockey-in/article_2ba5f3d1-17ae-5b4f-a53a-cb5b743a6b72.html | title=City Council approves deal with Coyotes for AHL hockey in Tucson | publisher=Arizona Daily Star | work=AZCentral.com | date=May 17, 2016 | access-date=May 18, 2016 | author=Pallack, Becky}}{{cite web | url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2016/05/18/tucson-city-council-approves-lease-agreement-arizona-coyotes-ahl-team/84527020/ | title=Tucson City Council approves lease agreement for Arizona Coyotes' AHL team | publisher=AZCentral | date=May 17, 2016 | access-date=May 18, 2016 | author=McLellan, Sarah}}
=University of Arizona hockey=
The University of Arizona Wildcats club hockey team currently plays at Tucson Arena. Although associated with the college, the team receives no funding directly from the school. The hockey team is a Division 1 member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Leo Golembiewski had been the head coach for 27 years, leading the team to 21 straight national tournaments, with eight semi-final appearances and one national championship. The current coach is Chad Berman.{{cite web
|url=http://www.arizonawildcathockey.org/page/show/387375-staff
|title=Arizona Hockey staff page
|access-date=2015-01-05}}
=Tucson Sugar Skulls=
On August 23, 2018, the Indoor Football League announced the addition of the expansion Tucson Sugar Skulls to begin play in 2019.
=Other events=
The Tucson Convention Center has been host to many other events including the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, Jehovah's Witnesses Regional Conventions, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, concerts, monster truck shows as well as many live WWE television broadcasts featuring Raw, SmackDown & ECW. In 1999, the arena hosted an Empty Arena match between The Rock and Mankind for the WWF Championship, which aired during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII.
While McKale Center was being built at the University of Arizona, the Wildcats briefly considered playing some of its 1971-72 men's basketball games at Tucson Arena, but eventually decided against doing so, opting to remain in Bear Down Gymnasium until McKale Center was ready.{{Cite news |last=Petranek |first=Jan |date=August 20, 1971 |title=Wildcat Cagers To Stay In Bear Down |pages=53 |work=Tucson Daily Citizen}}
The arena also hosted concerts by Elvis Presley on November 9, 1972 and June 1, 1976. He previous had performed at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds on June 10, 1956.{{Cite web |title=Elvis Presley Concerts In Tucson |url=https://www.library.pima.gov/content/elvis-presley-concerts-in-tucson/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.library.pima.gov |language=en-US}}
During the 2016 presidential race Donald Trump spoke in front of approximately 5000 people, for which his campaign still owes over $80,000 for local police and other services.{{Cite web |last=TucsonSentinel.com |last2=Robbins |first2=Natalie |title=Trump heading to Sierra Vista but still owes city of Tucson $82k from 2016 rally |url=https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/081924_trump_campaign_debts/trump-heading-sierra-vista-but-still-owes-city-tucson-82k-from-2016-rally/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=TucsonSentinel.com |language=en-US}}
Ventriloquist and comedian Jeff Dunham hosted a show at the arena as part of his "Seriously!?" tour on October 3, 2021.{{cite web |title=Comic ventriloquist Dunham bringing 'Seriously?' tour to Tucson Arena |url=https://tucson.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/comic-ventriloquist-dunham-bringing-seriously-tour-to-tucson-arena/article_c95be11e-de9b-11eb-b37c-53bcf6ba1e82.html |website=Tucson.com}}
=Past minor league teams=
- Tucson Mavericks, Central Hockey League (1975–76)
- Tucson Icemen, Southwest Hockey League (1976–77)
- Tucson Rustlers, Pacific Hockey League (1978–79)
- Tucson Gunners, Western Basketball Association (1978–79)
- Tucson Gila Monsters, West Coast Hockey League (1997–99)
=Renovation=
Throughout 2014, the Tucson Convention Center was renovated at a cost of $22 million,{{cite web|url=http://tucson.com/entertainment/blogs/caliente-tuned-in/tucson-arena-renovations-aimed-at-enhancing-audience-experience/article_60f7c84d-375a-570f-81b5-a956f052151c.html|title=Tucson Arena renovations aimed at enhancing audience experience|first=Cathalena E.|last=Burch|website=tucson.com|access-date=19 April 2018}} via funding by the Rio Nuevo downtown redevelopment and revitalization district and the City of Tucson, including new bathrooms, lighting, seats, a revamped sound system, a new kitchen and a video scoreboard.{{cite web |url=http://www.kvoa.com/news/tcc-arena-remodel-finished/ |title=TCC Arena remodel finished | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona |access-date=2015-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107124347/http://www.kvoa.com/news/tcc-arena-remodel-finished/ |archive-date=2015-01-07 }} Mike Love's Beach Boys headlined a January 4, 2015 concert at the venue, debuting the remodeled arena.{{cite web|url=http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/rio-nuevo-seeks-good-vibrations-as-arena-renovations-near-end/article_596d592e-d158-5373-8f80-6152e8bc764c.html|title=Rio Nuevo seeks 'Good Vibrations' as arena renovations near end|first=Darren DaRonco Arizona Daily|last=Star|website=tucson.com|access-date=19 April 2018}}
Management of the convention center is now handled by ASM Global.{{cite web|url=http://www.venuestoday.com/news/detail/smg-to-manage-tucson-convention-center-1014|title=VenuesNow :: SMG to Manage Tucson Convention Center|last=VenuesNow|website=www.venuestoday.com|access-date=19 April 2018}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://tucsonarena.com/ Tucson Arena]
- [http://tucsonmusichall.org/ Tucson Music Hall]
- [http://leorichtheater.com/ Leo Rich Theater]
- [http://www.arizonawildcathockey.org/ University of Arizona Wildcats Hockey Website]
- [https://www.tucsonroadrunners.com/ Tucson Roadrunners Website]
{{AHL Arenas}}
{{IFL Arenas}}
{{Music venues of Arizona}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Tucson, Arizona
Category:College ice hockey venues in the United States
Category:Economy of Tucson, Arizona
Category:Indoor arenas in Arizona
Category:Ice hockey venues in the United States
Category:Sports venues in Tucson, Arizona
Category:Tourist attractions in Tucson, Arizona
Category:Music venues in Arizona
Category:Convention centers in Arizona
Category:1971 establishments in Arizona
Category:Event venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona
Category:Sports venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona