Tucson Convention Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tucson Convention Center |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Tucson Arena at the Tucson Convention Center
|
|
| Address | 260 S Church Ave |
| Location | Downtown Tucson |
| Coordinates | 32°13′6″N 110°58′27″W / 32.21833°N 110.97417°W |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Built | 1971 |
| Renovated | 1987, 2014 |
| Expanded | 1988 |
|
Former names
|
Tucson Community Center (1971-2002) |
| Banquet/ballroom | 1,200 (Grand Ballroom) |
|
Theatre seating
|
8,962 (Tucson Arena) 2,289 (Linda Rondstadt Music Hall) 551 (Leo Rich Theater) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 205,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 113,940 sq ft (10,585 m2) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 10,640 sq ft (988 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 20,164 sq ft (1,873.3 m2) |
| Public transit access |  Tucson Sun Linkat Granada/Cushing |
| Tenants | |
| Arizona Wildcats (NCAA) 1980–present Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) (2016–present) Tucson Sugar Skulls (IFL) (2019–present) |
|
The Tucson Convention Center is a big building in downtown Tucson, Arizona. It was once called the Tucson Community Center. This center opened in 1971. It has a large indoor arena, two places for performing arts, and lots of meeting rooms. The whole complex covers about 205,000 square feet. In 2015, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Fun Places to See Shows
The Tucson Convention Center has three main areas for performances and events. Each one is designed for different types of shows.
The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall
This hall has 2,289 seats. It is often used for concerts and opera performances. It was first known as the Tucson Music Hall. In 2022, it was renamed to honor Linda Ronstadt. She is a famous singer from Tucson.
Leo Rich Theater
The Leo Rich Theater is smaller and more cozy. It has 511 seats. This theater is perfect for smaller shows and more personal performances.
Tucson Arena: Home of Sports and Concerts
The Tucson Arena is the largest venue. It can hold up to 8,962 people. It is used for many exciting events. These include sports games and big concerts. For hockey games, it can seat 6,521 fans.
Tucson Roadrunners Hockey
Since the fall of 2016, the Tucson Roadrunners have played their home games here. They are a professional ice hockey team. They are part of the American Hockey League.
University of Arizona Hockey
The University of Arizona Wildcats club hockey team also plays at Tucson Arena. This team is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. They are a Division 1 team. The team has a long history of success. Leo Golembiewski coached them for 27 years. He led them to 21 national tournaments. They even won a national championship. Chad Berman is their current coach.
Tucson Sugar Skulls Football
In 2018, the Indoor Football League announced a new team. The Tucson Sugar Skulls started playing in 2019. They also call Tucson Arena their home field.
Other Exciting Events
The Tucson Convention Center hosts many other events. These include the famous Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. It has also welcomed the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Many concerts have taken place here. Monster truck shows also bring big crowds. Even WWE wrestling shows like Raw and SmackDown have been broadcast live from the arena. In 1999, a special wrestling match happened here. It was between The Rock and Mankind. This match was for the WWF Championship. It aired during the Super Bowl halftime.
Famous singer Elvis Presley performed at the arena. He had concerts on November 9, 1972, and June 1, 1976. He had also performed in Tucson in 1956. In 2016, a political leader, Donald Trump, spoke to about 5,000 people here. Ventriloquist and comedian Jeff Dunham also had a show here in 2021.
Past Sports Teams at the Arena
Over the years, several other sports teams played at the arena.
- Tucson Mavericks (hockey) played in 1975–76.
- Tucson Icemen (hockey) played in 1976–77.
- Tucson Rustlers (hockey) played in 1978–79.
- Tucson Gunners (basketball) played in 1978–79.
- Tucson Gila Monsters (hockey) played from 1997–99.
Modern Updates and Management
The Tucson Convention Center got a big makeover in 2014. This renovation cost $22 million. It included new bathrooms, better lighting, and new seats. A new sound system and a video scoreboard were also added. The kitchen was updated too. The Beach Boys performed a concert in January 2015. This show celebrated the newly remodeled arena.
Today, ASM Global manages the convention center. They help make sure everything runs smoothly.
More to Explore
- List of convention centers in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Pima County, Arizona
See also
In Spanish: Centro de Convenciones de Tucson para niños
