United Spirit Arena

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United Spirit Arena

Location	1701 Indiana Ave Lubbock, TX 79409
Broke ground	March 27, 1997^[1]
Opened	November 20, 1999^[2]
Owner	Texas Tech University
Operator	Texas Tech University
Surface	Hardwood
Construction cost	$62 million USD^[2]
Architect	Rosser International, Atlanta
Tenants	Texas Tech Red Raiders (NCAA) (1999-Present)
Capacity	15,020

United Spirit Arena at night

United Spirit Arena is a 15,020-seat multi-purpose arena in Lubbock, Texas. The arena opened in 1999. It is home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders basketball teams and volleyball team. United Supermarkets, a Lubbock based supermarket chain with numerous stores in west Texas, was a major contributor. Thus, it was granted naming rights. Prior to the building of the arena, the teams played in the nearby City Bank Coliseum.

[edit] Notable events

The first basketball game was played in the arena on November 19, 1999. Texas Tech lost 68-60 to Indiana,^[3] whose legendary coach Bob Knight would later become the head coach of Texas Tech's men's basketball team.
Elton John's performance on February 8, 2000 was the first concert to be held at United Spirit Arena.
In the summer of 2002, Britney Spears brought her Dream Within a Dream Tour to the arena. After the second song, "(You Drive Me) Crazy", a power outage occurred and the rest of the concert had to be canceled. Spears, along with her tour manager, came onstage to explain the situation to the sold out crowd. Due to Spears being overbooked for the entire tour, there was no time to reschedule the concert.^[1]
United Spirit Arena has hosted WWE RAW (the first RAW ever to be hosted in Lubbock) in May 2006.
On January 1, 2007, a 70-68 defeat of New Mexico by Texas Tech marked the 880th total win for Bobby Knight, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history.
On May 4, 2007, the Houston Comets with former Lady Raiders Sheryl Swoopes and Erin Grant played a WNBA exhibition game against the Detroit Shock with Plenette Pierson, also a former Lady Raider.^[4]

[edit] References

^ Spears not returning despite arena officials plea. The Daily Toreador. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.

^ Associated Press (Mar. 27, 1997). Texas Tech breaking new ground. Amarillo Globe-News.
^ ^a Altenbaumer, Kara (Oct. 1, 1999). A grand time on tap for unveiling of Spirit Arena. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
^ Rosetta, Randy (Nov. 20, 1999). Despite falling short, Red Raiders pleased. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
^ (April 2, 2007). Tickets on Sale Now for WNBA Game in Lubbock. TexasTech.com.

[edit] External links

v • d • e Texas Tech Red Raiders Athletics

Sports	Football • Men's basketball

Facilities	City Bank Coliseum • Dan Law Field • Jones AT&T Stadium • The Rawls Course • R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field • United Spirit Arena

Current Coaches	Larry Hays (baseball) • Dan Spencer (baseball) • Pat Knight (men's basketball) • Kristy Curry (women's basketball) • Jon Murray (cross country) • Mike Leach (football) • Ruffin McNeill (football defensive coordinator) • Greg Sands (men's golf) • Stacey Totman (women's golf) • Tom Stone (soccer) • Teresa Wilson (softball) • Tim Siegel (men's tennis) • Cari Groce (women's tennis) • Wes Kittley (track and field) • Nancy Todd (volleyball)

Football Seasons & Bowl Games	1996 Alamo Bowl • 2001 Alamo Bowl • 2002 Tangerine Bowl • 2006 season • 2006 Insight Bowl • 2007 season • 2008 Gator Bowl • 2008 season

Current Athletes with Articles	Michael Crabtree (football) • Graham Harrell (football) • Sally Kipyego (cross country / track and field)

Traditions & Miscellany	Goin' Band from Raiderland • Guns up • High Riders • Knight School • The Masked Rider • Raider Red • Saddle Tramps

v • d • e Texas Tech University

Colleges & Schools	College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources • College of Architecture • College of Arts & Sciences • Rawls College of Business • College of Education • College of Engineering • Graduate School • Honors College • College of Human Sciences • School of Law • College of Mass Communications • College of Visual & Performing Arts

Athletics	Texas Tech Red Raiders • Football • Men's basketball • City Bank Coliseum • Dan Law Field • Jones AT&T Stadium • The Rawls Course • R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field • United Spirit Arena

Places	Lubbock Lake Landmark • National Ranching Heritage Center • Texas Technological College Dairy Barn • Wind Science and Engineering Research Center

Student Life	Notable People •The Daily Toreador • Goin' Band from Raiderland • KOHM-FM • KTXT-FM • KTXT-TV • La Ventana • Sabre Flight Drill Team • Society of Engineering Technologists

Traditions	Blarney Stone • Guns up • High Riders • The Masked Rider • Raider Red • Saddle Tramps

v • d • e Basketball Arenas of the Big 12 Conference

North Division	Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas) • Bob Devaney Sports Center (Nebraska) • Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) • Coors Events Center (Colorado) • Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State) • Mizzou Arena (Missouri)

South Division	Ferrell Center (Baylor) • Frank Erwin Center (Texas) • Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State) • Lloyd Noble Center (Oklahoma) • Reed Arena (Texas A&M) • United Spirit Arena (Texas Tech)