| Dunkin' Donuts Center | |
|---|---|
| "The Dunk" | |
| Former names | Providence Civic Center (1972–2001) |
| Location | 101 Sabin Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 |
| Broke ground | 1970 |
| Opened | November 3, 1972 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Owner | Rhode Island Convention Center Authority (2005–present) City of Providence (1972–2005) |
| Operator | SMG |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction cost | $13 million ($68.2 million in 2012 dollars[1]) $80 million (renovation) ($81.7 million in 2012 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket |
| Capacity | Ice hockey:11,940 Basketball: 13,106 |
| Tenants | |
| Providence Bruins (AHL) (1992–present) Providence Friars men's basketball (NCAA) (1972–present) URI Rams (NCAA) (1973–2002) Providence Reds (AHL) (1972–1976) Rhode Island Reds (AHL) (1976–1977) New England Steamrollers (AFL) (1988) |
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The Dunkin' Donuts Center (formerly Providence Civic Center and also known as The Dunk), is an indoor arena, located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It was built in 1972, as a home court for the emerging Providence College men's basketball program, due to the high demand for tickets to their games in Alumni Hall, as well as for a home arena for the then-Providence Reds, who played in the nearly fifty-year old Rhode Island Auditorium. Current tenants include the Providence Bruins, of the AHL and the Providence College men's basketball team.
In 2001, the arena was named the Dunkin' Donuts Center as part of a naming-rights deal with Dunkin' Donuts.[2] In December 2005, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority purchased the building from the city of Providence and spent $80 million on an extensive renovation. Major elements of the construction included a significantly expanded lobby and concourse, an enclosed pedestrian bridge from the Rhode Island Convention Center, a new center-hung LED video display board, a new restaurant, 20 luxury suites, four new bathrooms, and all-new seats with cupholders in the arena bowl. Behind-the-scenes improvements included a new HVAC system, ice chiller, and a first-of-its-kind fire suppression system. These renovations were completed in October 2008.
In 2010, the arena hosted first and second-round games of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament for the first time since 1996.
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The Providence Friars men's basketball team has been the only major tenant of the arena since its inception, having played almost all of its home basketball games at the arena since 1972. The University of Rhode Island men's basketball team also played some home basketball games at Dunkin' Donuts Center beginning in 1973, although this practice stopped with the opening of the Ryan Center in 2002. On rare occasions, the Providence women's basketball team has played "home" games in the arena, most notably for games against URI or UConn, where demand for tickets would be enough to warrant an arena larger than the 2,620-seat Alumni Hall.
The Providence Reds (later known as the Rhode Island Reds) hockey team of the AHL played there from 1972–1977. The Providence Bruins of the AHL began play at the arena in 1992. The New England Steamrollers of the Arena Football League also called the arena home for their single season of existence in 1988.
A number of other professional sporting events including the Harlem Globetrotters and preseason games for the Boston Celtics of the NBA have been held at the arena.
The arena has been the site of many collegiate tournaments, including the inaugural 1980 Big East Conference men's basketball tournament; several ECAC basketball tournaments; NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament first- and second-round games in 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1996, and 2010; the 1978 and 1985 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament regional finals; the inaugural 1985 Hockey East Tournament as well as the second tournament a year later in 1986 before the tourney made Boston a permanent home; and the 1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1995, and 2000 NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey championships.
The arena has long been a regular stop on WWE tours. It was the site of WWF King of the Ring tournaments six times: (from 1986–1990) five times before the event became a pay-per-view, and once after in 1997, and hosted the 1994 Royal Rumble. On April 25, 1999, the arena was home to the first WWE Backlash pay-per-view event. In December 2005 the arena hosted WWE Armageddon. It also hosted the final edition of Backlash in 2009.[3] In 2011, WWE SmackDown made its latest appearance in the arena on June 14, 2011.
The Grateful Dead recorded half of their live album, entitled Dick's Picks Volume 12, here on June 26, 1974.
The arena played host to The Rolling Thunder Revue Tour on November 4, 1975, headed by Bob Dylan.
David Bowie's concert on May 5, 1978, was filmed and later released as a live album, entitled Stage.
Phish recorded Live Phish Volume 20 on December 29, 1994, Live Phish 04.04.98 and Live Phish 04.05.98 on April 4-5, 1998.
On October 30–31, 2001, U2 played back to back sell outs on their Elevation Tour, one month after the tragedy of September 11 attacks. On the second night, the band celebrated drummer Larry Mullen, Jr.'s 40th birthday, with the capacity crowd singing "Happy Birthday", with Bono.
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Olympia Stadium Detroit, Michigan |
Host of the Frozen Four 1978 |
Succeeded by Olympia Stadium Detroit, Michigan |
| Preceded by Olympia Stadium Detroit, Michigan |
Host of the Frozen Four 1980 |
Succeeded by Duluth Arena Duluth, Minnesota |
| Preceded by Duluth Arena Duluth, Minnesota |
Host of the Frozen Four 1982 |
Succeeded by Ralph Engelstad Arena Grand Forks, North Dakota |
| Preceded by Joe Louis Arena Detroit, Michigan |
Host of the Frozen Four 1986 |
Succeeded by Joe Louis Arena Detroit, Michigan |
| Preceded by Saint Paul Civic Center St. Paul, Minnesota |
Host of the Frozen Four 1995 |
Succeeded by Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Preceded by Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim Anaheim, California |
Host of the Frozen Four 2000 |
Succeeded by Pepsi Arena Albany, New York |
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