Huntington Center (Toledo, Ohio) facts for kids
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| Former names | Lucas County Arena (2009–2010) |
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| Location | 500 Jefferson Avenue Toledo, Ohio 43604 |
| Owner | Lucas County |
| Operator | SMG |
| Capacity | Concerts: 4,784 (half-house) 5,903 (3/4 house) 7,286 (End-stage) 9,341 (center-stage) Basketball: 8,000 Ice Hockey: 7,389 (8,300 with standing room) |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 1, 2007 |
| Opened | October 3, 2009 |
| Construction cost | $105 million ($143 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HNTB The Collaborative Inc. |
| Project manager | Project Management Consultants LLC |
| Structural engineer | Poggemeyer Design Group |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc. |
| General contractor | Lathrop/R. Gant LLC |
| Tenants | |
| Toledo Walleye (ECHL) (2009–present) Toledo Crush (LFL) (2014) |
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The Huntington Center is a large arena in downtown Toledo, Ohio. It has 8,000 seats and can be used for many different events. This building was finished in 2009 and cost about $105 million to build. It took the place of the old Toledo Sports Arena, which was torn down.
Today, the Huntington Center is the home ice for the Toledo Walleye ECHL ice hockey team. It was also once home to the Toledo Crush football team for their 2014 season.
Contents
Building History
Designing a Green Arena
After successfully working together on the Mud Hens baseball stadium, Fifth Third Field, leaders in Lucas County decided to build a new arena. They teamed up with architecture companies from Kansas City and Toledo to design it.
The Huntington Center was designed to be the first sports arena in the United States to earn LEED certification. LEED stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design." It means the building was made to be very friendly to the environment.
Eco-Friendly Features
One special "green" part of the arena is a large "green wall" on the outside. This wall is covered with plants and helps keep the building cool by shading the main entrance.
The arena also has other eco-friendly features. It's built near public transportation, which helps reduce car pollution. The roof is light-colored to reflect heat and sunlight, keeping the building cooler. Plus, underground tanks collect rainwater to use for watering plants around the arena. All these things help the building save energy and earn LEED points.
The Huntington Center officially opened its doors in 2009.
Events and Naming
Concerts and Shows
The Huntington Center is part of a bigger area that includes the SeaGate Convention Centre and Fifth Third Field. Many famous performers have held concerts here.
Some of the artists who have played at the Huntington Center include Jeff Dunham, Janet Jackson, Daughtry, Tool, Lil' Wayne, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Elton John, Brad Paisley, Stevie Nicks, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Hunter Hayes, and Bob Seger. It's also a regular stop for World Wrestling Entertainment events.
Naming Rights Agreement
In April 2010, a company called Huntington Bancshares Incorporated bought the rights to name the arena. Before this, it was known as the Lucas County Arena. They paid $2.1 million for a six-year agreement. This deal can be renewed several times, potentially bringing in $11 million in total. This money helps pay off the arena's building debt.
Major Sporting Events
The Huntington Center has also hosted important sports events. On January 21, 2019, it was the home of the 2019 CCM/ECHL All Star Classic. This is a special game where the best players from the ECHL hockey league come together to play.
Presidential Rally
On January 9, 2020, President Trump held a "Keep America Great" rally at the Huntington Center. This was a political event where he spoke to his supporters.
Images for kids
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The Huntington Center was formerly known as the Lucas County Arena
