GCU Arena

Grand Canyon University Arena
Construction
GCU Arena
The Grand Canyon University Arena at dusk.
Location	3300 West Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85017
Coordinates	33°30′37″N 112°07′44″W / 33.510152°N 112.128884°W / 33.510152; -112.128884Coordinates: 33°30′37″N 112°07′44″W / 33.510152°N 112.128884°W / 33.510152; -112.128884
Owner	Grand Canyon University Education Inc.
Operator	Grand Canyon University Education Inc.
Capacity	7,000
Broke ground	June 25, 2010
Opened	September 1, 2011
Architect	360 Architecture Architekton
Structural engineer	Paragon Structural Design
Services engineer	Henderson Engineers^[1]
General contractor	Perini Building Company
Tenants
Grand Canyon Antelopes men's & women's basketball
Website
www.gcuarena.com

The Grand Canyon University Arena is a 7,000-seat, 135,000-square-foot multi-purpose entertainment and athletics facility in Phoenix, Arizona, that is owned and operated by Grand Canyon University. The arena is the home of Grand Canyon University Lopes men's and women's basketball teams and other athletic events.^[2] The arena's passionate student section, known as the "GCU Havocs", have gained national attention as one of the best collegiate student sections.^[3]

History

The Grand Canyon University Arena officially opened its doors on September 2, 2011, just 15 months after the University announced the project.^[4] The construction of the arena was part of the University's $200 million campus expansion and growth. It will regularly host Christian and secular concerts, outside performances, speaking engagements, Grand Canyon University athletic events, and commencement ceremonies.^[5]

In addition to the arena, the university is in the process of upgrading the athletics facilities,^[6] building new classroom space,^[7] dormitories, and other educational facilities on campus.^[8]^[9]

Sports teams and other events

The GCU Arena is home to Grand Canyon University's Lopes men’s and women’s basketball.^[10]

GCU plays host to Christian and secular concerts, outside performances, speaking engagements, athletic events, and commencement ceremonies. Previous acts include: Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, M-1 Global Challenge, Switchfoot, Pandora’s Unforgettable Moments on Ice featuring David Archuleta and Manheim Steamroller, Lady Antebellum, and Third Day.

On October 14, 2012, the arena hosted TNA Wrestling's 8th annual premiere pay-per-view of the year, Bound for Glory.^[11]

Facility information

Inside of Grand Canyon University Arena, one hour prior to a men's basketball game.

There are over 5,000 seats in the 135,000-square-foot arena. There are also five concession stands (including three pizza ovens), 17 restrooms, four locker rooms, two escalators, two elevators, two grand staircases and a total of four high definition video boards and one high resolution digital ribbon board. ^[12] The state-of-the-art video boards were installed by Atlanta-based Innovation Sports Marketing. ^[13] The main video board measures 15 feet tall by 35 feet wide and weighs around three tons.

Design for the facility was done by 360 Architecture and Tempe-based Architekton. ^[14] When construction of the arena was complete there were a total of 255,000 man hours, 8,870 yards of concrete, 41,000 bricks, 793 tons of structural steel, 75 miles of electrical wiring, and 2,300 light fixtures.

Notable features include large windows providing natural light, ceiling beams signed by GCU employees and students, a vault of Bibles buried at center court and an outdoor balcony with views of the Camelback Road campus.^[15] There are only 42 steps from event level to concourse level to ensure that every seat in the arena is a good one.

Expansion

Just over three years after opening, GCU Arena closed on March 3, 2014 to undergo a massive remodel. With the quicker than anticipated jump to Division I athletics for the Grand Canyon Antelopes athletic programs, the school announced the expansion of the arena from a capacity of 5,000 to 7,000 seats. The growth of the arena was primarily intended to incorporate adequate seating for the men's basketball games and for larger concerts.

Arizona sports icon Jerry Colangelo, who is closely connected with the athletic program, was involved in the expansion process, stating: "If GCU knew when the building went up just a couple of years ago that they would be in Division I as quickly as we have, it would have been built bigger." ^[16]

After a proposed finish date of October 17, the Arena opened nearly six weeks ahead of schedule on August 23 for a Switchfoot concert as a part of the school's 2014 Welcome Weekend. Final changes included an upper-deck seating area, a movable track for the high definition video display, and a new basketball floor.^[17]

References

↑ "Sports/Recreation". Henderson Engineers. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
↑ Gonzales, Angela (June 25, 2010). "Grand Canyon University Breaks Ground on Events Center". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ Sandritter, Mark (January 9, 2016). "The student section at Grand Canyon University is the biggest party in college basketball". Retrieved March 19, 2016.
↑ "A Year’s Wait Is Over: Welcome, GCU Arena!". GCU Today. September 2, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ Masley, Ed (August 26, 2011). "GCU Arena Bringing Christian-Friendly Shows to Phoenix". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ Christenburry, Amber (October 4, 2011). "New Track to Benefit Athletes and Others on Campus". GCU Today. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
↑ Carroll, Doug (October 18, 2011). "Formal Groundbreaking for New CAS Building". GCU Today. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ Ye Hee Lee, Michelle (June 26, 2010). "Grand Canyon University Breaks Ground on Event Center". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ "Privacy Policy". Grand Canyon University. June 19, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ "About". Grand Canyon University. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
↑ "TNA's Bound For Glory PPV Is Coming To Phoenix, Arizona On October 14". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. July 5, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
↑ "Arena Facts" (PDF). Grand Canyon University. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ "Innovation Sports Marketing". Innovation Sports Marketing. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ "Grand Canyon University Arena". Architekton. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
↑ Carroll, Doug (May 5, 2011). "Bible Buried in Arena Center Court Ceremony". GCU Today. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
↑ http://ktar.com/22/1685113/GCU-to-expand-seating-at-new-arena
↑ http://news.gcu.edu/2014/08/done-expanded-arena-ready-unveiled/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grand Canyon University Arena.

Events and tenants
Preceded by Liacouras Center	Host of Bound for Glory 2012	Succeeded by Viejas Arena

Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball

Venues	Antelope Gymnasium (1994–2011) GCU Arena (2011–present)

Culture & lore	"Feel the Place Go Boom"

People	Head coaches

Seasons	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 2015–16

NAIA national championships in bold

Basketball arenas of the Western Athletic Conference

Icardo Center (Cal State Bakersfield) Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center (Chicago State) GCU Arena (Grand Canyon) Pan American Center (New Mexico State) KeyArena (Seattle) UTRGV Fieldhouse (Texas–Rio Grande Valley) Municipal Auditorium (UMKC) UCCU Center (Utah Valley)

Bound for Glory venues

Impact Zone (2005) Compuware Sports Arena (2006) Arena at Gwinnett Center (2007) Sears Centre (IV) Bren Events Center (2009) Ocean Center (2010) Liacouras Center (2011) GCU Arena (2012) Viejas Arena (2013) Korakuen Hall (2014) Cabarrus Arena (2015)

Grand Canyon Athletic Venues

Venues	GCU Arena (basketball, volleyball, wrestling) Brazell Stadium (baseball) Stapleton-Pierson Stadium (softball) GCU Soccer Stadium Antelope Gymnasium (volleyball, wrestling)

School Links	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon Antelopes

Music venues of Arizona

Outdoor venues	Ak-Chin Pavilion AVA Amphitheater Chase Field Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium Mesa Amphitheatre Pool at Talking Stick Resort Salt River Fields Sun Bowl Amphitheatre Sun Devil Stadium University of Phoenix Stadium

Theaters and clubs	Celebrity Theatre Chandler Center for the Arts Club Congress Comerica Theatre Fox Tucson Theatre Gammage Memorial Auditorium Marquee Theatre The Mason Jar Mesa Arts Center Modified Arts Orpheum Theater (Flagstaff) Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix) Phoenix Symphony Hall Rialto Theatre Rhythm Room Safford Center for the Arts Showroom at Talking Stick Resort Skrappys Trunk Space Tempe Center for the Arts Tucson Music Hall

Arenas	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Equidome Arena GCU Arena Gila River Arena Mojave Crossing Prescott Valley Event Center Talking Stick Resort Arena Tucson Arena Walkup Skydome Wells Fargo Arena

Historic venues	Long Wong's Paper Heart Gallery

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