Global Credit Union Arena facts for kids
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Global Credit Union Arena at dusk.
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| Location | 3300 West Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona 85017 |
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| Coordinates | 33°30′37″N 112°07′44″W / 33.510152°N 112.128884°W |
| Owner | Grand Canyon University |
| Operator | GCU Athletics |
| Capacity | 7,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 25, 2010 |
| Opened | September 1, 2011 |
| Architect | 360 Architecture Architekton |
| Structural engineer | Paragon Structural Design |
| Services engineer | Henderson Engineers |
| General contractor | Perini Building Company |
| Tenants | |
| Grand Canyon Antelopes men's & women's basketball | |
The Global Credit Union Arena is a large building in Phoenix, Arizona. It is part of Grand Canyon University. This arena is a big place for sports and fun events. It has 7,000 seats, which means many people can watch games or shows.
The arena is the home court for the university's sports teams. These teams are called the Lopes. Both the men's and women's basketball teams play here. The men's and women's volleyball teams also use the arena. Many other university events happen here too.
History of the Arena
The arena first opened its doors on September 2, 2011. It was built very quickly, in just 15 months. Building the arena was part of a huge project. Grand Canyon University spent $200 million to make its campus bigger.
Since it opened, the arena has hosted many different events. These include concerts by various artists. People also come for speeches and other performances. Of course, many Grand Canyon University sports games happen here. Graduation ceremonies for the university are also held in the arena.
In December 2023, the arena got a new name. It was originally called GCU Arena. Now, it is named Global Credit Union Arena. This happened because of a partnership with Global Credit Union. On the same night, the men's basketball team won a big game. They beat the No. 25 San Diego State team. This was the first time the Lopes won against a top-25 team!
Sports and Fun Events
The Global Credit Union Arena is a busy place. It is the main home for the Grand Canyon University Lopes. Both the men's and women's basketball teams play their games here. The men's and women's volleyball teams also compete in the arena.
Many other exciting events take place here.
- Concerts by famous music groups and singers.
- Special performances and speaking events.
- University sports competitions.
- Graduation ceremonies for students.
Some famous groups and performers have been to the arena. These include The Beach Boys and Casting Crowns. Other acts like Switchfoot and Lady Antebellum have also performed. In 2017, the arena hosted a special basketball event. It was the College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championship. This event happened before the big Final Four tournament.
The arena has even hosted professional wrestling. In October 2012, it held a big event called Bound for Glory. This was a major show for TNA Wrestling.
Inside the Arena
The Global Credit Union Arena is a large building. It has 7,000 seats for fans and visitors. The whole arena is about 135,000 square feet.
Inside, you can find many useful things:
- Five places to buy food and drinks.
- 17 restrooms.
- Four locker rooms for sports teams.
- Two escalators and two elevators.
- Two grand staircases.
- Four large high-definition video screens.
- One long digital ribbon board.
The main video screen is huge! It is 15 feet tall and 35 feet wide. It weighs about three tons.
The arena was designed by two companies. They are 360 Architecture and Architekton. Building the arena took a lot of work. Workers spent 255,000 hours on the project. They used 8,870 yards of concrete and 41,000 bricks. They also used 793 tons of steel. About 75 miles of electrical wire were installed. There are 2,300 light fixtures in the building.
Some cool features make the arena special. Large windows let in natural light. The ceiling beams are signed by GCU employees and students. There is even a vault of Bibles buried under the center of the court. An outdoor balcony offers great views of the campus. There are only 42 steps from the event floor to the main concourse. This means every seat in the arena offers a good view.
Arena Expansion
Just a few years after it first opened, the arena got even bigger. In March 2014, it closed for a major remodel. Grand Canyon University's sports teams moved up to Division I athletics. This meant they needed a larger arena.
The arena grew from 5,000 seats to 7,000 seats. This expansion helped make sure there was enough seating. It was especially important for the men's basketball games. It also allowed for bigger concerts.
A famous Arizona sports leader, Jerry Colangelo, helped with the expansion. He said that if they knew the university would join Division I so quickly, they would have built it bigger from the start.
The expanded arena opened ahead of schedule in August 2014. It was ready for a Switchfoot concert. New features included an upper-deck seating area. A movable track for the video display was added. There was also a brand new basketball floor.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
