Nutter Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nutter Center

Full name	Wright State University Nutter Center
Former names	Ervin J. Nutter Center (1990–2011)
Address	3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy Fairborn, Ohio 45435-0001
Location	Greater Dayton
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) (1990–present) Dayton Wings (WBL) (1991–92) Dayton Bombers (ECHL) (1996–2009) Dayton Warbirds (NIFL) (2005) Dayton Bulldogs (NIFL) (2006)

The Nutter Center is a multi-purpose arena located at the Wright State University, in Fairborn, Ohio. In addition to hosting the Wright State Raiders basketball team, the Nutter Center serves as a music venue for touring concerts and shows. High schools in the area also commonly use the arena to host graduation ceremonies.

History

A local businessman and inventor, Ervin J. Nutter, donated $1.5 million to Wright State University in 1986. Funds from both the state of Ohio and the university contributed an additional $8 million to construction efforts which began in 1988. Work was completed twenty months later and on December 1, 1990, the Nutter Center held its first official event.

Events

Sports

• 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 & 2007 Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now Horizon League) men's basketball tournament.
• 2014 Horizon League championship game
• The Harlem Globetrotters have performed at the Nutter Center every New Year's Eve since at least 2005.

Wrestling

• 1993 WWE's King of the Ring 1993 tournament.
• WWE vs. ECW Head to Head special held in 2006.
• Hosted its second WWE Raw, the night following WrestleMania 23 on April 2, 2007.
• Taping of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on Tuesday May 12, 2009.
• Live WWE Raw on Monday January 4, 2010, which featured the WWE return of Bret Hart, who served as a guest host. This episode of Raw went head-to-head against wrestling promotion TNA on TV for the very first time.
• Taping of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on Tuesday December 7, 2010.
• Live WWE Raw on Monday April 30, 2012.
• Live WWE Raw on Monday November 19, 2012.
• Live WWE Raw on Monday January 20, 2014. Which Saw The Return Of The Animal Batista.
• Taping of "WWE SmackDown" on Tuesday February 10, 2015.
• Taping of "WWE SmackDown" on Tuesday January 19, 2016.
• Live "WWE SmackDown" on Tuesday June 20, 2017.
• Live "WWE SmackDown" on Tuesday March 12, 2019.

Other

Dire Straits played on their final tour, the ‘On Every Street’ tour. They played the Nutter Center on February 21, 1992.

• The band Phish played a concert at the venue on December 7, 1997, which was released in its entirety on their 2008 live album Live Phish 12.07.97.
• Barack Obama's "Keeping America’s Promise" rally, on Monday, February 25, 2008.
• “Road to the Convention Rally” on August 29, 2008, at which time Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, was announced as presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain's vice-presidential candidate, or running mate.
• On May 17–18, 2013, the Nutter Center hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2013 Science Olympiad National Tournament.
• July 22, 2015, the band Eagles performed one of their last stops on their History of the Eagles Tour.
• The Nutter Center was originally scheduled to host the first 2016 presidential debate but the venue was changed due to security and financial concerns.
• The Nutter Center is frequently used as a competition venue for the Winter Guard International indoor percussion, color guard, and winds championship.
• On May 19–20, 2017, the Nutter Center hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2017 Science Olympiad National Tournament.