UCCU Center
{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Orem, Utah, United States}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = UCCU Center
| nickname =
| fullname =
| former names = UVSC McKay Special Events Center (planning/construction)
McKay Events Center (1996–2010)
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| image = 275px
| caption = Exterior of arena under former signage,
January 2004
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=275|zoom=15|type=point}}
| address = 800 West University Parkway
| city = Orem, Utah
| country = United States
| location = Utah Valley University
| coordinates = {{coord|40.278724|N|111.716956|W|region:US-UT_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}
| type =
| genre =
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|1996|01|26}}
| renovated = 2007
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Utah Valley University
| operator =
| surface =
| scoreboard =
| cost = $27.7 million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|27000000|1996}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = FFKR Architects
| project_manager =
| structural engineer = Reaveley Engineers + Associates
| services engineer = Heath Engineering Company
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| seating_type =
| capacity = 8,500
| suites =
| record_attendance =
| dimensions =
| field_shape =
| acreage =
| volume =
| tenants = Utah Valley Wolverines (WAC) (1996–present)
Utah Catzz (PIFL) (1998)
Utah Flash (NBA D-League) (2007–11)
Utah Valley Thunder (AIFA) (2009)
| embedded =
| website = {{URL|http://www.uccucenter.com/}}
| publictransit = {{rint|uta}} UVX (at UVU station)
}}
The UCCU Center (originally known as the McKay Events Center), is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, United States. It was built in 1996 and is home to the Utah Valley Wolverines basketball team.
History
In 1991, the Utah State Legislature passed a law allowing county governments to implement a 1% restaurant tax in order to support tourism and recreational facilities.{{cite news |title=UTAH COUNTY COMMISSION ADOPTS 1% RESTAURANT TAX |url=https://www.deseret.com/1991/8/27/18938203/utah-county-commission-adopts-1-restaurant-tax/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=Deseret News |date=27 August 1991 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530193349/https://www.deseret.com/1991/8/27/18938203/utah-county-commission-adopts-1-restaurant-tax/ |archive-date=30 May 2024 |url-status=live |language=en}} In April that year, Utah County voters approved a 20-year bond and 1% restaurant sales tax to raise $7.7 million for a multipurpose events center. The measure passed by more than a 2–1 margin with an 8.7% voter turnout.{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Josephine |title=Voters approve special events center for UVCC |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6d554h7/24117564 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Daily Herald |date=10 April 1991}}
In December 1993, Utah Valley State College (now UVU) held a ground breaking ceremony for the Center. Officials in attendance included college president Kerry D. Romesburg and Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert.{{cite news |title=Ground breaking held for UVSC Events Center |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6614s33/22918570 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=Orem-Geneva Times |date=15 December 1993 |page=1}}
Construction began in January 1994 and finished in January 1996 for a total of {{Currency|27.7 million|USD|first=}}.{{cite news |last1=Eddington |first1=Mark |title=New center unveild |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=24253485 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Daily Herald |date=22 January 1996 |pages=C1–C2}}{{cite news |last1=Eddington |first1=Mark |title=McKay honored during center dedication |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=24258328 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Daily Herald |date=23 April 1996}} The Center opened with 8,500 seats and {{convert|25000|sqft|sqm}} of floor space. On January 27, 1996, former First Lady Barbara Bush was the keynote speaker at the Center's debut event, a conference titled "In Honor of Women".{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Lili |title=Women Gather at UVSC for Deluge of Advice on Success |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6b61q9s/28037414 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=27 January 1996 |pages=B1}}{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Lili |title=Bursh Shares Her Wit, Wisdom With Women |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66f0zh5/28037503 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=28 January 1996 |pages=B1, B4}}
In April 1996, the Center was dedicated and officially named in honor of David O. McKay.
On January 19, 2010, UVU announced its plans to sell the naming rights to the arena at the request of the donor family, to help the university raise money.[http://www.ksl.com/?sid=9395313&nid=148 KSL.com, UVU selling naming rights to David O McKay Events Center] At the same time, the university named its education building after David O. McKay. On August 30, 2010, Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU) announced it acquired the naming rights to the arena.[http://blog.uccu.com/community/?p=71 UCCU announces that it has acquired naming rights to the Event Center]
The UCCU Center has grown to host many top touring shows such as ZZ Top, Boston, Lonestar, Styx, Maroon 5, Lifehouse, INXS, OneRepublic, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Kelly Clarkson and more recently The Killers, Phillip Phillips, Pentatonix, Panic! at the Disco and Bastille.
The Center is the former home of the minor league professional sports teams including the Utah Flash (defunct D-League affiliate team of the Utah Jazz), the Utah Valley Thunder (defunct American Indoor Football Association team), and the Utah Catzz of the Professional Indoor Football League.
Concerts
Bastille brought their Bad Blood: The Last Stand Tour to the arena on November 11, 2014.
Fall Out Boy & Paramore brought their co-headlining tour, Monumentour, to the arena on August 13, 2014, with New Politics as the opening act.
Panic! at the Disco brought their Death of a Bachelor Tour to the arena on March 18, 2017, with MisterWives and Saint Motel as the opening acts.
Bastille brought their Wild, Wild World Tour to the arena on April 13, 2017, with Mondo Cozmo as the opening act.
Paramore brought their After Laughter tour to the arena on September 22, 2017, with Best Coast as the opening act.
Louis Tomlinson brought his Louis Tomlinson World Tour to the arena on March 1, 2022, with Sun Room as the opening act.
Olivia Rodrigo brought her Sour Tour to the arena on April 9, 2022, with Gracie Abrams as the opening act.
See also
References
{{reflist|22em}}
External links
{{commons category|UCCU Center}}
- {{official website|http://www.uccucenter.com}}
{{Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball navbox}}
{{Western Athletic Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{Utah Valley University}}
{{Orem, Utah}}
Category:College basketball venues in the United States
Category:Sports venues in Orem, Utah
Category:Utah Valley Wolverines basketball
Category:Sports venues completed in 1996
Category:1996 establishments in Utah
Category:Indoor arenas in Utah
{{Utah-stadium-stub}}