Truist Arena facts for kids
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Truist Arena, also referred to as "The Bank"
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| Former names | The Bank of Kentucky Center (2008–2015) BB&T Arena (2015–2022) |
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| Location | 500 Nunn Drive Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099 |
| Coordinates | 39°01′56″N 84°27′32″W / 39.032273°N 84.458864°W |
| Owner | Northern Kentucky University |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 8,427 (basketball) 9,400 (concerts) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 20, 2006 |
| Opened | May 10, 2008 |
| Construction cost | $64 million ($87 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | 360 Architecture GBBN Architects |
| Structural engineer | THP Limited Inc. |
| General contractor | Turner Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Northern Kentucky Norse (NCAA) 2008–present Northern Kentucky River Monsters (UIFL/CIFL) 2011, 2014 Black-n-Bluegrass RollerGirls (WFTDA) 2012–2013 Cincinnati Bearcats (NCAA) 2017–2018 Kentucky Barrels (AF1) (2026-future) |
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Truist Arena is a large building in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It is on the campus of Northern Kentucky University (NKU). This arena can hold up to 9,400 people for concerts and 8,427 for basketball games. It is a place where many different events happen.
The arena was finished in 2007. The first event held here was NKU's graduation ceremony in May 2008. A big opening party happened in September 2008.
Contents
Welcome to Truist Arena!
Truist Arena is home to the NKU men's and women's basketball teams. But it's not just for college sports! Many other exciting events take place here.
What Happens Here?
Over the years, Truist Arena has hosted many famous performers. These include country music star Carrie Underwood and comedian Jeff Dunham. You might have also seen shows like Cirque du Soleil or Walking With Dinosaurs live. Even WWE wrestling has had events here!
Many other music artists have performed at the arena. Some of these include Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Bob Dylan, Jason Alden, Luke Bryan, and Jay-Z. Rock bands like REO Speedwagon and Styx have also played here.
Big Games and Tournaments
The first basketball game at the arena was on November 8, 2008. The NKU men's and women's teams played against Louisville.
In 2012, the arena hosted the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship. This is a big college basketball tournament. From 2016 to 2018, it also hosted the KHSAA Girls' Sweet Sixteen. This is a major high school basketball championship in Kentucky.
How the Arena Got Its Name
The arena has had a few different names since it opened.
The Bank of Kentucky Center
When the arena was first built, The Bank of Kentucky helped pay for it. They gave money to cover 10% of the cost, up to $6 million. In return, the arena was named "The Bank of Kentucky Center." The bank also got special perks, like a luxury suite and free use of the building once a year.
BB&T Arena
In 2015, a company called BB&T Corp. bought The Bank of Kentucky. Because of this, the arena's name changed to "BB&T Arena."
Truist Arena
Later, in 2020, BB&T merged with another bank called SunTrust. The new company was named Truist. The arena kept the BB&T name for a while. But on April 5, 2022, the name officially changed to "Truist Arena."
Who Plays Here?
Truist Arena is a busy place for many sports teams.
Home Teams
- The Northern Kentucky Norse men's and women's basketball teams have played here since 2008. They are the main teams at the arena.
- The Northern Kentucky River Monsters indoor football team played here in 2011 and 2014.
- The Black-n-Bluegrass RollerGirls roller derby team also called the arena home in 2012 and 2013.
- The Cincinnati Bearcats college basketball team played their home games here during the 2017–18 season. Their own arena was being fixed up at the time.
- Starting in 2026, a new arena football team, the Kentucky Barrels, will play their games at Truist Arena.
More Cool Places
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
