Colonial Life Arena

Last updated
Colonial Life Arena
University of South Carolina Colonial Life Arena.jpg
The arena in 2011
Colonial Life Arena
Former namesCarolina Center (2002–2003)
Colonial Center (2003–2008)
Address801 Lincoln Street
Location Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Coordinates 33°59′42″N81°02′14″W / 33.99500°N 81.03722°W / 33.99500; -81.03722
Public transitAiga bus trans.svg The Comet:
Routes 28, 52X, 63, 101, 201, 301, 401, 601
BSicon TRAIN3.svg BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak Silver Star at Columbia
Owner University of South Carolina
Operator Spectra
Capacity 18,000 (Basketball)
19,000 (Concerts)
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundApril 25, 2001 [1]
OpenedNovember 21, 2002
Construction cost$65 million
($110 million in 2023 dollars [2] )
Architect Rosser International Inc.
JHS Architects [3]
Structural engineer Geiger Engineers [4]
General contractor Beers Construction [5]
Tenants
South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA) (2002–present)
Columbia Stingers (NIFL) (2007)
Website
coloniallifearena.com

The Colonial Life Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Columbia, South Carolina, primarily home to the University of South Carolina men's and women's basketball teams. Opened as a replacement for the Carolina Coliseum with the name Carolina Center in 2002, the 18,000-seat arena is also host to various events, including conferences, concerts, and graduation ceremonies. It is the largest arena in the state of South Carolina and the eighth largest campus college arena.

Contents

The naming rights were acquired in 2003 by Unum, a Portland, Maine–based insurance company, and it was renamed to the Colonial Center after the Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, a Unum subsidiary headquartered in Columbia. On July 22, 2008, the USC board approved renaming the building to the Colonial Life Arena as part of the rebranding by Unum (which by then had moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee) of Colonial Life & Accident as Colonial Life. [6]

History and use

The arena floor of the Colonial Life Arena. Colonial Center interior.jpg
The arena floor of the Colonial Life Arena.

The arena first opened on November 22, 2002, with the season opener of the South Carolina women's basketball team. A near sell-out crowd of 17,712 fans saw the 72–58 Gamecocks victory over in-state rival Clemson, with a $1 admission charge, at that time commonly used by the women's basketball team to promote major games. The official grand opening took place December 2, 2002. The men's basketball team defeated Temple 66–47. On January 26, 2010 South Carolina defeated #1 ranked and undefeated Kentucky 68–62 in the arena, one of the biggest wins in South Carolina history. [7]

On January 18, 2021, as part of the university's observance of Martin Luther King Day, the university dedicated a statue of Gamecocks great and 2020 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson near the arena's main entrance. [8]

Aside from Gamecock basketball, the Colonial Life Arena also hosts the South Carolina High School Basketball Championships each year. The facility is built to also host ice hockey games, and was intended to be the new home of the ECHL's Columbia Inferno. However, due to legal issues with the funding for the facility, the Inferno never played there. The franchise suspended operations in 2008, but after plans for a new arena in neighboring Lexington County fell through, the franchise was finally canceled in 2014.

The Colonial Life Arena was ranked 22nd in the world in ticket sales in 2003. [9] It was also ranked the #1 arena in the Carolinas and was the #2 rated university arena in the world in 2005, based on ticket sales for touring shows. [10]

It is managed by Spectra (formerly Global Spectrum), the facilities management subsidiary of Comcast Spectacor. The NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, then owned by Comcast Spectacor, played an exhibition game in the venue in October 2005.

In 2007, it was home to the Columbia Stingers of the National Indoor Football League. The arena has hosted the Charlotte Bobcats and New York Knicks in the past.

Originally, the venue, like all Comcast-Spectator managed facilities, had its own ticketing policy, and therefore concerts were not controlled by the major ticketing industry firms.

Ticketing was provided by New Era Tickets, and tickets could be purchased through the Arena's website.

Ticketing for events at the arena is now provided through Ticketmaster.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)</span> Multi-purpose arena in Pennsylvania, US

The Wells Fargo Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia. It serves as the home of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The arena lies at the southwest corner of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and Xfinity Live!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haas Pavilion</span> Arena in Berkeley, California

The Walter A. Haas Jr. Pavilion is an indoor arena on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. It is the home venue of the Golden Bears men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, and men's and women's gymnastics teams. The arena is located in the middle of the main sports complex, overlooking Evans Diamond (baseball) and Edwards Stadium (track/soccer).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross Insurance Arena</span> Sports arena in Portland, Maine

Cross Insurance Arena is a multi-purpose arena located in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of US$8 million, it is the home arena for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. There are 6,206 permanent seats in the arena, and it seats up to 9,500 for concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence Center</span> Multipurpose arena in Florence, South Carolina

The Florence Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Florence, South Carolina. The arena was known as the Florence Civic Center until it rebranded in November 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina Coliseum</span> Arena in Columbia, South Carolina

Carolina Coliseum is a 12,401-seat former multi-purpose arena in Columbia, South Carolina, built in 1968 by the University of South Carolina. The Coliseum was the largest arena in South Carolina at the time of its completion. It was the home of the USC men's and women's basketball teams from 1968 to 2002, as well as Columbia's main events venue until 2002, when the Colonial Life Arena, opened a block away on Greene Street.

McKenzie Arena is the primary basketball arena for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) in Chattanooga in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It replaced Maclellan Gymnasium, a 4,177-seat gymnasium now used for women's volleyball and wrestling. Originally called UTC Arena, it was renamed McKenzie Arena on February 21, 2000, in honor of athletic supporters Toby and Brenda McKenzie of Cleveland, Tennessee. The arena opened on October 8, 1982. It was designed by Campbell & Associates Architects with David J. Moore as the on-site architect/construction administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littlejohn Coliseum</span> Arena in Clemson, South Carolina

The Littlejohn Coliseum is a 9,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Clemson, South Carolina, United States. It is home to the Clemson University Tigers men's and women's basketball teams. It is also the site of Clemson graduations and the Clemson Career Fair. It is owned and operated by Clemson University and hosts more than 150 events per year including concerts, trade shows, galas, and sporting events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelicans Ballpark</span> Baseball stadium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Pelicans Ballpark is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the Carolina League. The stadium opened in 1999. It holds up to 6,599 people. Since its opening, it has been the finish point of the annual Myrtle Beach Marathon, held annually in March.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park</span> Baseball stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park is a baseball stadium located in Charleston, South Carolina. The stadium is named after Charleston's longest-serving mayor, Joseph P. Riley Jr., who was instrumental in its construction. The stadium replaced College Park. It was built in 1997 and seats 6,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addition Financial Arena</span> Indoor arena in Orlando, Florida, U.S.

Addition Financial Arena is a sports and entertainment arena located near Orlando in Orange County, Florida, United States, on the main campus of the University of Central Florida. It was constructed beginning in 2006 as a replacement for the original UCF arena, and as a part of Knights Plaza. The arena is home to the UCF Knights men's and women's basketball teams. The arena also hosted the annual Science Olympiad in 2012 and 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robins Center</span> Building in Virginia, United States

The Robins Center is a 7,201-seat multi-purpose arena in Richmond, Virginia. Opened in 1972, the arena is home to the University of Richmond Spiders basketball. It hosted the ECAC South men's basketball tournament in 1983. It is named for E. Claiborne Robins Sr, class of 1931, who, along with his family, have been leading benefactors for the school. The opening of the Robins Center returning Spider basketball to an on-campus facility for the first time since the mid-1940s when it outgrew Millhiser Gymnasium. In the intervening decades, the Spiders played home games in numerous locations around the Richmond area, including the Richmond Coliseum (1971–1972), the Richmond Arena (1954–1971), the Benedictine High School gymnasium (1951–1954), Grays' Armory (1950–1951) and Blues' Armory (1947–1950). The Robins Center arena serves as the location of the University of Richmond's commencement exercises and hosted a 1992 Presidential debate involving Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Ross Perot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winthrop Coliseum</span> Arena in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States

Winthrop Coliseum is a 6,100-seat multi-purpose arena in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It was built in 1982 and is home to the Winthrop University Eagles basketball and volleyball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SHM Memorial Center</span>

The Smith–Hammond–Middleton Memorial Center is a 3,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Orangeburg, South Carolina, named in memory of Samuel Hammond, Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith, who died in the Orangeburg Massacre, the same night the arena opened. It is home to the South Carolina State University Bulldogs basketball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McAlister Field House</span>

McAlister Field House is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It was built in 1939 and is home to The Citadel Bulldogs basketball, wrestling and volleyball teams. Office space in the facility houses athletic department staff as well as several coaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsey Center</span>

The Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center is a 7,826-seat multi-purpose arena in Cullowhee, in the U.S. state of North Carolina, and is home to the Western Carolina University Catamounts basketball and volleyball teams. It is also named "The Lair". It is a state owned facility and offers the largest seating capacity inside the Charlotte–Atlanta–Knoxville triangle.

G. B. Hodge Center is an 878-seat multi-purpose arena in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is home to the USC Upstate Spartans' basketball and volleyball teams. It was opened in 1973 and is named for one of the university's founders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center</span> Multi-purpose arena in Buies Creek, North Carolina

The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center is a multi-purpose arena in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The arena, Gore Arena, is located on the campus of Campbell University and hosts the university's basketball, volleyball, and wrestling programs. It is named for Gilbert Craig Gore, the late son of a Campbell alum. The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center is a part of the expansion plan of Campbell's athletic facilities, which includes a new football stadium and renovations to existing Taylor Field of the baseball program. The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center replaced Carter Gymnasium, which was the second smallest gymnasium in Division I Basketball with just 947 seats, second only to Charleston Southern's Fieldhouse which holds 750. The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center also host events such as the universities commencement ceremonies and other university related events.

Kimmel Arena is the home of the UNC Asheville Bulldogs basketball programs, both men and women's. It is a 3,200-seat arena located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina. Kimmel Arena, named for local businessman Joe Kimmel, is part of the much larger Wilma M. Sherrill Center, which is a 133,500-square-foot (12,400 m2) facility. The arena held its first games, both exhibitions, on November 7, 2011, and formally opened November 13, 2011, as UNC Asheville hosted the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. It replaces the Justice Center as UNCA's home court, but the latter will remain as a training facility and physical education complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TD Arena</span> Multi-purpose arena in South Carolina

TD Arena is a 5,100 seat multi-purpose arena in Charleston, South Carolina, United States that opened in 2008 and replaced John Kresse Arena as the home of the College of Charleston Cougars basketball and volleyball teams. The South Financial Group of Greenville purchased the naming rights to the new facility and it opened in 2008 under the Carolina First Arena name. After the 2010 sale of the corporation to Toronto Dominion Bank, the arena's name changed to TD Arena. The playing surface is named John Kresse Court in honor of legendary Charleston men's basketball coach John Kresse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross Insurance Center</span> Basketball arena in Bangor, Maine, U.S.

The Cross Insurance Center is a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Bangor, Maine, United States. The arena holds up to 8,500 people for concerts, and features an attached 2,000-person convention center. It was built at an estimated cost of $65 million. Part of the city's Bass Park complex, it is located across from Hollywood Casino Bangor. It is the home of the basketball teams of the Maine Black Bears.

References

  1. ↑ "Crowd Revels in Future Arena". The State . Columbia, SC. April 26, 2001. p. B1. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  2. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Book of 2005 Lists" (PDF). Columbia Business Journal. July 11, 2005. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Paul A. Gossen, P.E." Geiger Engineers. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  5. ↑ "What's on Deck?". SportsBusiness Journal. July 30, 2001. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Colonial Center Name Change Approved". South Carolina Athletics. July 22, 2008. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Kentucky Schedule (2009-10)". Big Blue History. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  8. ↑ Voepel, Mechelle (January 18, 2021). "A'ja Wilson says unveiling of statue at South Carolina on MLK Day shows 'how you just plant seeds' for change". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  9. ↑ "The Colonial Center Ranks 22nd Worldwide in Ticket Sales to its Events". South Carolina Athletics. January 16, 2004. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  10. ↑ http://sdm3.com/viewmsg.cfm?n35069s338c632468t337e1685912%5B%5D
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.