Alliant Energy PowerHouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alliant Energy PowerHouse

Former names	Cedar Rapids Civic Center (planning/construction) Five Seasons Center (1979-2000) U.S. Cellular Center (2000-20)
Address	370 1st Ave NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1108
Location	Downtown Cedar Rapids
Owner	City of Cedar Rapids
Operator	VenuWorks
Capacity	9,000
Construction
Broke ground	1977
Opened	January 25, 1979
Renovated	2011-13
Closed	July 2011
Reopened	June 1, 2013
Construction cost	$8 million ($38.6 million in 2022 dollars )
Tenants
Iowa Cornets (WBL) (1979-80) Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets (CBA) (1988-91) Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters (GBA) (1992) Cedar Rapids River Raiders (USBL) (2004) Cedar Rapids Titans/River Kings (IFL/AIF) (2014–2020, 2024–present) Cedar Rapids Rampage (MASL) (2015–18) Iowa Raptors FC (M2) (2022–present)
Building details
General information
Renovated	July 2011-May 2013
Renovation cost	$20 million ($26 million in 2022 dollars )
Renovating team
Architect	OPN Architects
Other designers	Frew Nations Group tvsdesign JLG Architects
Main contractor	Bernards AECOM Ellerbe Becket

The Alliant Energy PowerHouse is a large building in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It's a place where many different events happen, like sports games and concerts. Before it got its current name, it was known as the Five Seasons Center and then the U.S. Cellular Center.

This arena was built after people in Cedar Rapids voted to use special money for it. It cost about $7 million to build the arena itself. An extra $1 million was used to add a parking garage right next to it. There's even a tall, 16-story hotel called DoubleTree built right above the arena!

What is the Alliant Energy PowerHouse?

Arena exterior

The Alliant Energy PowerHouse is a busy place in Eastern Iowa. It hosts many exciting events throughout the year. You can catch local sports games and big concerts here.

It's especially famous for hosting important high school sports events. These include the Iowa State High School Girls Volleyball Tournament. It also hosts the Iowa High School Team Dual Wrestling Championships.

A Look Inside: What Happens Here?

The arena first opened its doors in 1979. It was called the Five Seasons Center back then. The very first concert held here was by the English rock band Yes on April 25, 1979.

For basketball games, about 6,900 people can watch the action. For concerts, even more people can fit, with seating for up to 8,600 fans. It was the main place for entertainment in Eastern Iowa for a few years. Later, Carver–Hawkeye Arena opened in Iowa City.

Many different sports teams have played here over the years. These include the Cedar Rapids River Raiders basketball team. The Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters and the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets also played here. The arena is also a popular spot for high school and college graduation ceremonies.

Memorable Moments and Events

The PowerHouse has seen many exciting events, including professional wrestling. It hosted the first World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Souled Out event in 1997. Other WCW events like Clash of the Champions XXVIII and a Monday Nitro show also took place here.

It was also the location for two early Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. These were UFC 21 in 1999 and UFC 26 in 2000. In 1989, a famous wrestler named Andre the Giant had an incident here. He damaged a TV camera and was later fined for it.

In June 2008, the building was affected by the Iowa flood of 2008. Water entered the U.S. Cellular Center during this time.

Renovations and Reopening

The arena closed in July 2011 for a big makeover. This renovation was part of a larger plan to build a new convention center complex. The nearby DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel also got updated.

During the renovation, events moved to other places like the ImOn Ice Arena. The newly improved complex reopened with a concert by Lady Antebellum on June 1, 2013. It was chosen to host the NCAA Division II National Volleyball tournament later that year.

The Cedar Rapids River Kings indoor football team played here from 2014 to 2019. They returned to play here again in 2024. In 2014, the arena even hosted a professional basketball game. The Milwaukee Bucks played the Minnesota Timberwolves in a preseason NBA game.

On October 23, 2020, the city announced a new name for the arena. Alliant Energy, a local electricity company, bought the naming rights. This new name, Alliant Energy PowerHouse, started on July 1, 2020, and will last for twelve years.

How the Arena Got Its Name

The arena has had a few different names since it first opened:

• Five Seasons Center (January 25, 1979 – August 2000)
• U.S. Cellular Center (August 2000 – June 30, 2020)
• Alliant Energy PowerHouse (July 1, 2020 – present)

Famous Performers

Many well-known musicians and bands have performed at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse. Here are some of them: