United Supermarkets Arena

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United Supermarkets Arena
Entertainment Showcase of West Texas
The USA
United Supermarkets Arena logo.svg
United Spirit Arena.jpg
United Supermarkets Arena
Former namesUnited Spirit Arena (1999–2014)
Location1701 Indiana Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79409
Coordinates 33°34′52.54″N101°53′11.89″W / 33.5812611°N 101.8866361°W / 33.5812611; -101.8866361
Owner Texas Tech University
Operator Texas Tech University
Capacity 15,300 (present)
15,050 (1999–2001)
Surface Hardwood
Construction
Broke groundMarch 26, 1997
OpenedOctober 1, 1999
Construction cost $62.775 million
($115 million in 2023 dollars [1] )
Architect Rosser International
Joe D. Mckay AIA Architects
Project manager Hill International
General contractorCentex Construction Co.
Tenants
Texas Tech Red Raiders (NCAA DI) (1999–present)

United Supermarkets Arena (previously the United Spirit Arena) is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The 15,300-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.

Contents

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] Groundbreaking began on March 26, 1997. [3] The arena opened on October 1, 1999, at a cost of $62.775 million. [4]

With a total of 15,300 seats, United Supermarkets Arena is slated to become the largest indoor collegiate sports arena in the state, pending the proposed demolition of University of Texas at Austin's Frank Erwin Center.

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 eight-story Victory Tower. At 96 feet (29 m), Victory Tower is the 16th-tallest structure in Lubbock. [7]

Naming rights

Lubbock-based supermarket chain 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

Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball

NCAA Tournaments

NCAA Division I Women's Basketball First and Second Rounds: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2013, and WNIT Tournament First Round 2023.

Gymnastics

On October 2, 2016, the arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions. [11]

WNBA

On May 4, 2007, the Houston Comets with former Lady Raiders Sheryl Swoopes and Erin Grant played a Women's National Basketball Association exhibition game against the Detroit Shock with Plenette Pierson, also a former Lady Raider. [12]

WWE

United Supermarkets Arena hosted WWE Raw (the first Raw ever to be hosted in Lubbock) in May 2006.

Concerts

DateArtistOpening act(s)Tour / Concert nameAttendanceRevenueNotes
February 8, 2000 Elton John — Medusa Tour ——First concert to be held at the arena.
October 18, 2000 Pearl Jam Supergrass Binaural Tour Performance of "Parting Ways" was included on the Touring Band 2000 DVD.
June 14, 2002 Britney Spears — Dream Within a Dream Tour 14,256 / 14,256$741,972After 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. [13]
October 14, 2011 Taylor Swift — Speak Now World Tour 10,419 / 10,419$710,426Tickets for the show were sold out within 20 minutes after going on sale, the fastest sell-out in the arena's history.
January 18, 2013 George Strait Martina McBride The Cowboy Rides Away Tour ——
March 17, 2013 Bon Jovi — Because We Can: The Tour 13,255 / 13,255$1,201,105This concert marks Richie Sambora's last with the band.
October 2, 2014 Paul McCartney — Out There 11,446 / 11,446$1,820,456Originally scheduled for June 14, but was postponed due to illness. [14]
March 30, 2017 Garth Brooks
Trisha Yearwood 		— The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood ——This show was sold out and 4 more shows were added, all of which were sold out.
March 31, 2017
April 1, 2017
April 2, 2017
March 2, 2019 Metallica Jim Breuer World Wired Tour ——This concert featured the live debut of Here Comes Revenge. [15]
March 26, 2023 TobyMac CrowderCochren & Co

Tasha Layton Jon Reddick Terrian

Hits Deep Tour 2023——
May 7, 2023 For King & Country — What Are We Waiting For The Tour: Part II ——

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Tech University</span> Public university in Lubbock, Texas, US

Texas Tech University is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University System. As of Fall 2023, the university enrolled 40,944 students, making it the sixth-largest university in Texas. Over 25% of its undergraduate student population identifies as Hispanic, so the university has been designated a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones AT&T Stadium</span> Stadium in Lubbock, Texas

Jones AT&T Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Built in the style of Spanish Renaissance architecture, it is the home field of the Texas Tech Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lubbock Municipal Coliseum</span> Former arena in Lubbock, Texas, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Tech Red Raiders</span> Athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University, located in Lubbock, Texas. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders, while the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball</span> College mens basketball team representing Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team represents Texas Tech University in basketball. Texas Tech competes in NCAA Division I, and has been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference since its first season in 1996. The team previously competed in the Border Conference and Southwest Conference. The team was founded in 1925, having since won 13 regular season conference championship, and made 20 appearances in the NCAA tournament as of the 2023-2024 season. Since 1999, the Red Raiders have played their home games at the United Supermarkets Arena on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polk Robison</span>

Polk Robison was an American collegiate basketball and football coach and college athletics administrator who served as the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team from 1942 to 1946 and again from 1947 to 1961. He served as the university's athletic director from 1961 to 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Tech University traditions</span> Aspect of Texas Tech University culture

Texas Tech University traditions are an important part of the culture of Texas Tech University.

The 2008–09 Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team represented Texas Tech University during the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team plays in the Big 12 Conference at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. The season marked Pat Knight's first full season as head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Texas Tech University</span>

The history of Texas Tech University dates back to the early 1880s, but the university was not established until 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Administration Building (Texas Tech University)</span>

The Administration Building is a structure on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. It was one of the original buildings on the campus, and is modeled after the Universidad de Alcala de Henares in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. The Admin building has three floors and a basement and includes twin bell towers, double wings, and a courtyard. Some of the offices housed in the building include the Chancellor's Office, President's Office and Board of Regents Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball</span> College womens basketball team representing Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team represents Texas Tech University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas–Texas Tech football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Texas–Texas Tech football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The winner of this gauntlet receives the other university's chancellor's sterling silver boot spurs which is what the name of the rivalry is named after. The Battle For The Chancellor's Spurs has been played uninterrupted since the 1960 college football season. After Texas has joined the SEC, the future of this game remains uncertain.

John Thomas Montford is a business consultant in San Antonio, Texas, who is a former member of the Texas State Senate from District 28, based about Lubbock in West Texas. He is a former district attorney for Lubbock County and a former chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2014–15 Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team will represent Texas Tech University in the 2014–15 college basketball season. It will be head coach Candi Whitaker's second season at Texas Tech. The Lady Raiders, were members of the Big 12 Conference and will play their home games at the United Supermarkets Arena. They finished the season 15–16, 5–13 in Big 12 play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of Big 12 women's tournament to West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team represented Texas Tech University in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Red Raiders were led by the 2016 Big 12 coach of the year Tubby Smith. They played their home games at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas and were members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 19–13, 9–9 in Big 12 play to finish in seventh place. They lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament to TCU. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Butler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrett Culver</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Jarrett Culver is an American professional basketball player for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team</span> Womens college basketball season

The 2022–23 Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team represent Texas Tech University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Lady Raiders are led by third-year head coach Krista Gerlich. They play their home games at United Supermarkets Arena and compete as members of the Big 12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024–25 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2024–25 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team will represent Texas Tech University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders are led by second-year coach Grant McCasland, and will play their home games at the United Supermarkets Arena located in Lubbock, Texas.

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ "John T. Montford a Powerhouse at Tech, in Politics". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . January 11, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Texas Tech Breaking New Ground". Amarillo Globe-News . Associated Press. March 27, 1997. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ Altenbaumer, Kara (October 1, 1999). "A Grand Time on Tap for Unveiling of Spirit Arena". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ Fuquay, John (April 27, 1999). "Tech to Test Integrity of United Spirit Arena Balcony". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal . Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Buildings: Sports Facilities". Hill International. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Victory Tower, Lubbock | 243555". Emporis. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "Texas Tech Receives 9.45 Million from United Supermarkets".
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Rose, Rex (February 26, 2014). "Tech breaks Big 12 attendance record, falls to Kansas State". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  11. ↑ "2016 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions takes center stage beginning Sept. 15". usagym.org. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Tickets on Sale Now for WNBA Game in Lubbock". Texas Tech Athletics. April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
  13. ↑ Gilbreth, Kristin (June 21, 2002). "Spears Not Returning Despite Arena Officials Plea". The Daily Toreador . Texas Tech University. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  14. ↑ Kerns, William. "McCartney postpones Lubbock concert; show rescheduled for Oct. 2". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Here Comes Revenge". Metallica.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
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