| UCF Arena | |
|---|---|
| "The Dungeon"[1] | |
Exterior of arena |
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| Full name | University of Central Florida Arena |
| Former names | UCF Convocation Center (2007) |
| Location | 50 North Gemini Blvd Orlando, Florida 32816 United States |
| Broke ground | 2006 |
| Opened | September 8, 2007[2] |
| Owner | University of Central Florida |
| Operator | Global Spectrum[3] |
| Construction cost | $107 million[4] ($113 million in 2012 dollars[5]) |
| Architect | HOK Sports[2][6] |
| General Contractor | KUD International[2] |
| Capacity | 9,465 (basketball)[7] 9,993 (MMA)[7] 10,072 (concert)[7] |
| Website | www.ucfarena.com |
| Tenants | |
| UCF Knights Basketball (NCAA) (2007–present) Orlando Fantasy (LFL) (2010) |
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The UCF Arena is a multi-purpose arena complex located on the main campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, USA. It is the home to the UCF Knights men's and women's basketball teams. It also hosts commencements, concerts, and many other events.
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The arena was originally built in 1991 with a capacity of 5,100 and was home to men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball, and was also used for events such as concerts and commencements. It has hosted the Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball tournament three times, in 1994, 1995, and 2002. The last basketball game played in the original facility was on March 3, 2007, when the UCF men's team beat the East Carolina Pirates, 77-64, in Conference USA play.
A new arena was built 2007, as part of a larger project to create an athletic village known as Knights Plaza. The new arena, built in the space in front of the original arena, is double the seating capacity of its predecessor, including 7,479 fixed standard seats, 500 club seats, 1,328 retractable seats, 188 disabled seats, 16 luxury suites (seating capacity 192, total capacity 256), two party suites (total capacity 60) and loge box seating for 64. According to the promoters' guide, the new arena has a basketball capacity of 9,465, and can hold up to 10,072 for concert events. The student section has been dubbed the "Knightmare."[2]
The new arena was completed in September 2007 and is the home to both the men's and women's basketball teams. This expansion made the UCF Arena the second largest arena complex in Orlando. Beginning in 2008, the grounds around UCF Arena hosted "Light Up UCF", a holiday celebration that features an outdoor ice skating rink. For the event, the UCF Arena is decorated with thousands of lights that are synchronized to holiday music.[8]
UCF has expressed interest in selling the naming rights to the arena. At one point, AirTran Airways was in negotiations to purchase naming rights, but no agreement was ever reached.
In addition to its use as a basketball arena, the arena is regularly used to host other events on campus, including career fairs, graduation ceremonies, concerts, and public speakers. One of the more notable events in UCF Arena's history took place when singer Katy Perry's first headlining concert tour, the California Dreams Tour, performed in the arena in June 2011.[9]
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