Tucson Convention Center
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The Tucson Convention Center (TCC), previously named the Tucson Community Center, is a large multi-purpose convention center located in downtown Tucson, Arizona. Built in 1971, the location includes a 9,275-seat indoor arena, two performing arts venues, and 205,000 square feet of meeting space. The center hosts a variety of events including the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, WWE wrestling, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, music concerts, monster truck shows, and many other smaller events.
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[edit] Performance venues
- TCC Music Hall, with 2,289 seats, is used for concert performances, including opera.
- Leo Rich Theater, with 511 seats, is used for small scale and more intimate performances.
- TCC Arena, with 4,988 permanent seats, 2,724 bleacher seats, and floor capacity for 888.
[edit] Major arena events
[edit] Arizona Icecats ice hockey
The University of Arizona Icecats hockey team currently plays in the TCC Arena and is the primary tenant at this time. Although associated with the college, the team receives no funding directly from the school. The hockey team is a Division 1 member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Leo Golembiewski has been the head coach for the last 27 years, leading the team to 21 straight national tournaments with eight final four appearances and one national championship.
[edit] Past Minor League Teams
- Tucson Mavericks, Central Hockey League (1975-76)
- Tucson Icemen, Southwest Hockey League (1976-77)
- Tucson Rustlers, Professional Hockey League (1978-79)
- Tucson Gila Monsters, West Coast Hockey League (1997-99)
[edit] Future Expansion
[edit] Arena & Convention
HNTB recently unveiled its plans for a new downtown arena. The facility will be used for minor-league hockey, concerts, family events, equestrian shows, and other activities. The arena is proposed for a site located on the northeast corner of Interstate 10 and Clark Street in downtown Tucson as part of the city's redevelopment of its Civic Plaza and the Rio Nuevo Redevelopment District. On April 4, 2007, Tucson city council approved funding of $130 million for a new 12,338 seat arena. [1] The new arena will be 270,844 square feet and will seat 9,070 in the lower bowl and 2,900 in the upper along with club seating. [2] Plans for the downtown area also include the expansion of the existing convention center, a new four-diamond hotel as well as the renovation/expansion of the current Hotel Arizona, the new University of Arizona Science Center, and a new symphony hall. Over 4,000 parking spaces would also be added to the grounds around the TCC as well as ten new meeting rooms able to accommodate up to 1,000 people.
The current arena is outdated and operates at a 3 million dollar deficit every year. In 2005, a feasibility study was performed, revealing that this project is possible. Supporters claim that the new arena would add significantly to the Rio Nuevo downtown redevelopment project. Currently, most performances in Arizona are held in Phoenix because of the larger facilities.[1] When attempting to bring larger names to the city, Prince and Cirque du Soleil both declined performances because the existing arena's ceiling was too low. The new arena will boast a ceiling more than twice as high at 110 feet. Though the council signed off on the plan, it will need to vote again on the issue to formally allocate the estimated $130 million for the arena and $60 million for the first phase of TCC renovation. A second phase, also priced at $60 million, that includes a ballroom expansion will be discussed later by the council. Ground could be broken on the downtown arena as early as August 2008.[2] The arena's design was inspired by the Desert Tortoise and the majority of the seating, including the entire lower bowl, will be 29 feet underground.
[edit] References
- ^ Study: City can support new 12,500-seat arena. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
- ^ Study: Arena construction could start next year. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
