Honda Center Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Honda Center
Construction
The Pond

Honda Center in 2021
Honda Center Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Honda Center Location in California Show map of California Honda Center Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Former names	Anaheim Arena (planning/construction) Pond of Anaheim (1993) Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim (1993–2006)
Address	2695 East Katella Avenue
Location	Anaheim, California
Coordinates	33°48′28″N 117°52′36″W / 33.80778°N 117.87667°W / 33.80778; -117.87667
Public transit	Anaheim
Owner	City of Anaheim
Operator	Anaheim Arena Management
Capacity	Basketball: 18,609 Concerts: 13,793–19,578 Ice hockey: 17,174 Theatre: 10,935
Field size	650,000 square feet (60,000 m²)
Broke ground	November 8, 1990
Opened	June 17, 1993
Construction cost	US$123 million ($276 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	HOK Sport (now Populous)
Project manager	Turner Construction
Structural engineer	Thornton Tomasetti
Services engineer	Syska Hennessy Group, Inc.
General contractor	Huber, Hunt & Nichols
Tenants
Anaheim Ducks (NHL) (1993–present) Anaheim Bullfrogs (RHI/MLRH) (1994–1999) Anaheim Splash (CISL) (1994–1997) Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) (1994–1999) Anaheim Piranhas (AFL) (1996–1997) Anaheim Storm (NLL) (2004–2005) UCLA Bruins basketball (NCAA) (2011–2012) Los Angeles Kiss (AFL) (2014–2016)

The Honda Center is a large indoor stadium in Anaheim, California. It is best known as the home of the Anaheim Ducks, a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). People sometimes call it "The Pond" because of its old name.

This arena was built in 1993 and cost about $123 million. It was first called the Anaheim Arena during construction. Later, a company called Arrowhead Water bought the rights to name the building, so it became the "Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim." In 2006, Honda took over the naming rights, and it has been known as the Honda Center ever since. Honda renewed their naming deal in 2020.

History of the Honda Center
How Many People Can Fit?
Location and Nearby Attractions
Images for kids
See also

History of the Honda Center

The idea for a big arena in Anaheim started in 1987. City leaders approved the plan, and construction began in November 1990. The arena was designed by a company called Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.

A major tenant for the arena was found in 1992. The Walt Disney Company decided to bring an NHL hockey team to Anaheim. This team became the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, now known as the Anaheim Ducks. The arena officially opened on June 19, 1993, with a concert. The first hockey game was on October 8, 1993.

Big Moments in Sports

The Honda Center has seen many exciting sports events. The Anaheim Ducks won their first Stanley Cup championship here in 2007. They beat the Ottawa Senators in game five of the finals. The arena also hosted games for the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003.

Besides hockey, the arena has hosted many other sports. From 1994 to 1999, the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team played some of their games here. It was also home to other teams like the Anaheim Bullfrogs (roller hockey) and the Anaheim Piranhas (arena football).

The arena has hosted college basketball tournaments many times. These include the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament West Regional site. In 1999, it even hosted the "Frozen Four," which is the championship for college ice hockey.

Other Fun Events

The Honda Center is not just for sports. It has hosted many concerts by famous musicians. It is known for having some of the highest ticket sales for special events on the West Coast. Artists like Tina Turner, Beyoncé, Madonna, and U2 have performed here. K-pop groups like TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, and EXO have also performed sold-out shows.

In 2024, the arena hosted big events for the D23 convention, which is a huge gathering for Disney fans.

Arena Upgrades and Future Plans

The arena has been updated over the years. In 2005, it was the first arena in the U.S. to get two levels of 360-degree ribbon displays. A new, modern scoreboard was added in 2014.

In March 2020, many events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, the Honda Center was used for helpful community events. These included blood drives, food distributions, and even a collective wedding. It also served as a drive-through voting location. The Ducks returned to play in the arena in January 2021, with a smaller audience allowed for some games.

In April 2025, plans were shared for a huge $1 billion renovation of the Honda Center. These changes will be finished by 2027, just before the 2028 Summer Olympics. The renovations will add a new entrance, escalators, special club suites, and more parking. This is part of a bigger project called "OC Vibe" happening near the arena.

The Honda Center will also be a venue for the 2028 Summer Olympics. It will host indoor volleyball games.

How Many People Can Fit?

The Honda Center can hold different numbers of people depending on the event.

For hockey games, it seats about 17,174 fans.
For basketball games, it can hold around 18,336 people.
For concerts, the capacity can range from about 13,793 to 19,578, depending on the stage setup.
For theater-style shows, it can seat about 10,935 people.

The arena has 84 luxury suites, which are special private viewing areas.

Location and Nearby Attractions

The Honda Center is located near other popular places in Anaheim. It is across the street from Angel Stadium of Anaheim, where the Los Angeles Angels baseball team plays. It is also only about three miles from Disneyland Park.

The arena is easy to get to by public transport. The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center is nearby. This station offers services from Amtrak and Metrolink trains.