United Supermarkets Arena

United Supermarkets Arena
Construction
Entertainment Showcase of West Texas

Former names	United Spirit Arena (1999–2014)
Location	1701 Indiana Avenue Lubbock, TX 79409
Coordinates	33°34′52.54″N 101°53′11.89″W / 33.5812611°N 101.8866361°W / 33.5812611; -101.8866361Coordinates: 33°34′52.54″N 101°53′11.89″W / 33.5812611°N 101.8866361°W / 33.5812611; -101.8866361
Owner	Texas Tech University
Operator	Texas Tech University
Capacity	15,098 (2001-present) 15,050 (1999-2001)
Surface	Hardwood
Broke ground	March 26, 1997
Opened	October 1, 1999
Construction cost	$62.775 million ($88.9 million in 2015 dollars^[1])
Architect	Rosser International Joe D. Mckay AIA Architects
Project manager	Hill International
General contractor	Centex Construction Co.
Tenants
Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball (1999–present) Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball (1999–present) Texas Tech Red Raiders women's volleyball (1999–present)

United Supermarkets Arena (previously the United Spirit Arena) is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The 15,098-seat arena opened in 1999 and is home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball, Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball and Texas Tech Red Raiders women's volleyball teams.

History

The City of Lubbock proposed replacing the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum with a new arena named after Buddy Holly. The proposed Buddy Holly Arena was to be located next to the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Downtown Lubbock, not on the Texas Tech University campus. A public referendum for a tax increase to build the arena failed to pass by as few as 600 votes. Texas Tech decided to move construction to an on campus facility with private donations on the university's campus.

The arena was financed from a $500 million fundraising endeavor undertaken by John T. Montford, the first chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.^[2] Ground breaking began on March 26, 1997.^[3] The arena opened on October 1, 1999, at a cost of $62.775 million.^[4]

Design

The arena features a Spanish Renaissance exterior facade, matching architectural style of the rest of the Texas Tech University campus. Architects for the project included Joe D. Mckay AIA Architects, and Rosser International. Hill International was the project manager, and the general contractor was Centex Construction Co.^[5]^[6]

Standing at the southeast entrance of the arena is the 8-story Victory Tower. At 96 feet (29 m), Victory Tower is the 16th tallest structure in Lubbock.^[7]

The arena at night.
Inside United Supermarkets Arena prior to a graduation ceremony.
Victory Tower at the southeast entrance

Naming rights

Until 2014, the venue was known as United Spirit Arena.

United Supermarkets, purchased the naming rights to the facility under a 20-year, $10 million naming rights agreement with Texas Tech University in 1996. Until 2014, the arena was known as United Spirit Arena. Following a 10-year, $9.45 million naming rights extension, the arena was renamed United Supermarkets Arena. Funds from the 10-year naming rights extension will go towards facility renovations.^[8]

Usage

See also: Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball and Texas Tech Red Raiders women's volleyball

Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball

The first basketball game was played in the arena on November 19, 1999. Texas Tech Red Raiders lost 68–60 to the Indiana Hoosiers,^[9] coached by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bob Knight, who would later become the head coach of Red Raiders basketball team.
On January 1, 2007, a 70–68 defeat of the New Mexico Lobos by the Texas Tech Red Raiders marked the 880th total win for Bob Knight, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history.
A Big 12 Conference record for student attendance was set February 25, 2014 against Kansas State.^[10]

NCAA Tournaments

NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Subregional: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2013

Other

Elton John's performance on February 8, 2000 was the first concert to be held at United Supermarkets 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.^[11]
United Supermarkets Arena hosted WWE RAW (the first RAW ever to be hosted in Lubbock) in May 2006.
On May 4, 2007, the Houston Comets with former Lady Raiders Sheryl Swoopes and Erin Grant played a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) exhibition game against the Detroit Shock with Plenette Pierson, also a former Lady Raider.^[12]
In 2008, Champions on Ice made its United Supermarkets Arena debut, having moved over from City Bank Coliseum. At the same time, Cirque du Soleil made its first Lubbock-area appearance.
On October 14, 2011, Taylor Swift made her first ever appearance at the United Supermarkets Arena with her Speak Now World Tour. Tickets for the show were sold out within twenty minutes after going on sale, the fastest sell-out in United Supermakers Arena history.
On January 18, 2013, the United Supermarkets Arena hosted the first show in the final live tour of George Strait. He was supported by Martina McBride.
Paul McCartney played at the United Supermarkets Arena on October 2, 2014 as part of his Out There tour, having postponed his initial show date of June 14 due to illness.

References

↑ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2014. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
↑ "John T. Montford a Powerhouse at Tech, in Politics". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. January 11, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
↑ "Texas Tech Breaking New Ground". Amarillo Globe-News. Associated Press. March 27, 1997. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
↑ Altenbaumer, Kara (October 1, 1999). "A Grand Time on Tap for Unveiling of Spirit Arena". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
↑ Fuquay, John (April 27, 1999). "Tech to Test Integrity of United Spirit Arena Balcony". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
↑ "Buildings: Sports Facilities". Hill International. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
↑ http://www.emporis.com/building/victorytower-lubbock-tx-usa
↑ http://www.texastech.com/genrel/050214aaa.html
↑ Rosetta, Randy (November 20, 1999). "Despite Falling Short, Red Raiders Pleased". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived from the original on February 21, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
↑ Rose, Rex (February 26, 2014). "Tech breaks Big 12 attendance record, falls to Kansas State". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
↑ Gilbreth, Kristin (June 21, 2002). "Spears Not Returning Despite Arena Officials Plea". The Daily Toreador (Texas Tech University). Retrieved November 24, 2007.
↑ "Tickets on Sale Now for WNBA Game in Lubbock". Texas Tech Athletics. April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to United Supermarkets Arena.

Texas Tech University

Academics

Research

Athletics

Teams:	Baseball Red Raider basketball Lady Raider basketball Cross Country Football Golf Softball

Facilities:	City Bank Coliseum Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park Fuller Track John Walker Soccer Complex Jones AT&T Stadium The Rawls Course United Spirit Arena

Rivalries:	Texas: Chancellor's Spurs Texas A&M: football rivalry

Conferences:	Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference

Media

People

Campus

Landmarks:
- Lubbock Lake Landmark
- Museum of Texas Tech University
- National Ranching Heritage Center
- Public Art Collection
- Riding into the Sunset
- Texas Technological College Historic District
Branches:
Buildings:

Student life

Traditions

Miscellaneous

Texas Tech University Independent School District

Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball

Overview	Head Coaches Players in the WNBA Draft Seasons

Arenas	Women's Gym Lubbock Municipal Coliseum United Supermarkets Arena

Seasons	1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball

Venues	Livestock Judging Pavilion (1925–1927) Tech Gymnasium (1927–1956) Lubbock Municipal Coliseum (1956–1999) United Supermarkets Arena (1999–present)

Culture & lore	Raider Red The Masked Rider "Fight, Raiders, Fight" "The Matador Song" Guns Up Knight School

People	Head coaches NBA draftees

Seasons	1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Basketball arenas of the Big 12 Conference

Ferrell Center (Baylor) Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State) Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas) Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) Lloyd Noble Center (Oklahoma) Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State) Daniel–Meyer Coliseum (TCU) Frank Erwin Center (Texas) United Supermarkets Arena (Texas Tech) WVU Coliseum (West Virginia)

Music venues of Texas

Outdoor venues	Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Gexa Energy Pavilion Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Selma Zilker Park

Theaters and clubs	AT&T Performing Arts Center Billy Bob's Texas Trees Dallas

Arenas	Frank Erwin Center Toyota Center United Spirit Arena American Airlines Center AT&T Center

Festivals	Austin City Limits Music Festival South by Southwest