Nutter Center facts for kids
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| Full name | Wright State University Nutter Center |
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| Former names | Ervin J. Nutter Center (1990–2011) |
| Address | 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy |
| Location | Fairborn, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°46′55″N 84°3′9″W / 39.78194°N 84.05250°W |
| Owner | Wright State University |
| Capacity | 10,400
Configurations
Concerts: 11,200
Half house: up to 7,500 Basketball: 9,500 |
| Field size | Ice surface: 200 x 85 ft (61 x 26 m) |
| Surface | Hardwood/Ice |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1988 |
| Opened | December 1, 1990 |
| Construction cost | US$34.5 million ($85.4 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Structural engineer | KZF Design |
| Tenants | |
| Wright State Raiders (NCAA) Men's basketball 1990–present Women's basketball 1990–present Dayton Wings (WBL) 1991–1992 Dayton Bombers (ECHL) 1996–2009 Dayton Warbirds (NIFL) 2005 Dayton Bulldogs (NIFL) 2006 |
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The Nutter Center is a large building at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio. It's a place where many different events happen. It is mainly the home court for the university's men's and women's basketball teams. People also come here for concerts, shows, and high school graduation ceremonies.
Contents
The Nutter Center's Story
A kind businessman and inventor named Ervin J. Nutter gave $1.5 million to Wright State University in 1986. The state of Ohio and the university also helped with money. Construction on the building started in 1988. The Nutter Center was finished about 20 months later. Its first official event took place on December 1, 1990.
Events and Activities
The Nutter Center is a busy place, hosting many different kinds of events.
Exciting Sports Events
The Nutter Center has been the site of many thrilling sports competitions:
- The first-ever WWE King of the Ring event happened here in 1993.
- Games 3 and 4 of the 2002 Kelly Cup Finals were played at the center.
- It hosted the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now Horizon League) men's basketball tournament several times. These years included 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2007.
- The 2014 Horizon League championship game also took place here.
- The famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team has performed at the Nutter Center every New Year's Eve since at least 2005.
Concerts and Special Gatherings
Beyond sports, the Nutter Center has welcomed many famous performers and important events:
- Gloria Estefan performed here on her "Into The Light World Tour" on August 19, 1991.
- The band Dire Straits played one of their final concerts on February 21, 1992.
- The band Phish has played several concerts at the venue. One show on December 7, 1997, was even released as a live album. They also performed in 1995, 2017, and 2023.
- In 2008, Barack Obama held a rally called "Keeping America’s Promise" on February 25.
- Later that year, on August 29, 2008, a "Road to the Convention Rally" took place. At this event, Sarah Palin, who was the Governor of Alaska, was announced as a vice-presidential candidate.
- The Nutter Center hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the Science Olympiad National Tournament in May 2013.
- On July 22, 2015, the band Eagles performed one of their last shows on their "History of the Eagles Tour."
- The Nutter Center was supposed to host the first 2016 presidential debate. However, the location was changed due to security and money concerns.
- The center is often used for competitions by Winter Guard International. This includes indoor percussion, color guard, and winds championships.
- The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2017 Science Olympiad National Tournament were held here in May 2017.
- On November 16, 2022, the popular Dave Matthews Band played a concert at the arena.
See also
- E.J. Nutter Training Facility - a college football training facility at the University of Kentucky also named after Ervin J. Nutter
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
