Tucson Convention Center
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The Tucson Convention Center (previously named the Tucson Community Center) is a multi-purpose convention center located in downtown Tucson, Arizona. Built in 1971, the location includes an 8,962-seat indoor arena, two performing arts venues, and 205,000 square feet (19,000 m2) of meeting space. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Key Information
Performance venues
[edit]- The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, with 2,289 seats, is used for concert performances, including opera. Known originally as the Tucson Music Hall, it was renamed in honor of Tucson native Linda Ronstadt in 2022.[1]
- Leo Rich Theater, with 511 seats, is used for small scale and more intimate performances.
- Tucson Arena, with maximum capacity of 8,962. In the 200 seating series, total capacity is 4,988, 100 series total capacity is 2,724 and the floor capacity is 1,250. Standard hockey capacity is 6,521.[2]
Tucson Roadrunners
[edit]Beginning from the fall of 2016, Tucson Arena has been home to the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League.[3][4][5][6]
University of Arizona hockey
[edit]The University of Arizona Wildcats club hockey team currently plays at Tucson Arena. Although associated with the college, the team receives no funding directly from the school. The hockey team is a Division 1 member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Leo Golembiewski had been the head coach for 27 years, leading the team to 21 straight national tournaments, with eight semi-final appearances and one national championship. The current coach is Chad Berman.[7]
Tucson Sugar Skulls
[edit]On August 23, 2018, the Indoor Football League announced the addition of the expansion Tucson Sugar Skulls to begin play in 2019.
Other events
[edit]The Tucson Convention Center has been host to many other events including the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, Jehovah's Witnesses Regional Conventions, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, concerts, monster truck shows as well as many live WWE television broadcasts featuring Raw, SmackDown & ECW. In 1999, the arena hosted an Empty Arena match between The Rock and Mankind for the WWF Championship, which aired during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII.
While McKale Center was being built at the University of Arizona, the Wildcats briefly considered playing some of its 1971-72 men's basketball games at Tucson Arena, but eventually decided against doing so, opting to remain in Bear Down Gymnasium until McKale Center was ready.[8]
The arena also hosted concerts by Elvis Presley on November 9, 1972 and June 1, 1976. He previous had performed at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds on June 10, 1956.[9]
During the 2016 presidential race Donald Trump spoke in front of approximately 5000 people, for which his campaign still owes over $80,000 for local police and other services.[10]
Ventriloquist and comedian Jeff Dunham hosted a show at the arena as part of his "Seriously!?" tour on October 3, 2021.[11]
Past minor league teams
[edit]- Tucson Mavericks, Central Hockey League (1975–76)
- Tucson Icemen, Southwest Hockey League (1976–77)
- Tucson Rustlers, Pacific Hockey League (1978–79)
- Tucson Gunners, Western Basketball Association (1978–79)
- Tucson Gila Monsters, West Coast Hockey League (1997–99)
Renovation
[edit]Throughout 2014, the Tucson Convention Center was renovated at a cost of $22 million,[12] via funding by the Rio Nuevo downtown redevelopment and revitalization district and the City of Tucson, including new bathrooms, lighting, seats, a revamped sound system, a new kitchen and a video scoreboard.[13] Mike Love's Beach Boys headlined a January 4, 2015 concert at the venue, debuting the remodeled arena.[14]
Management of the convention center is now handled by ASM Global.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kelly Presnell (May 8, 2022). "The Tucson Music Hall renamed for Grammy and Emmy Award winner Linda Ronstadt". The Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ "TCC Space Configurations" (PDF). TucsonConventionCenter.com. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Coyotes Sign Agreement to Purchase Springfield Falcons AHL Franchise". Arizona Coyotes. April 19, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ "BOG conditionally approves Coyotes' purchase". TheAHL.com. American Hockey League. May 10, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ Pallack, Becky (May 17, 2016). "City Council approves deal with Coyotes for AHL hockey in Tucson". AZCentral.com. Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ McLellan, Sarah (May 17, 2016). "Tucson City Council approves lease agreement for Arizona Coyotes' AHL team". AZCentral. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ "Arizona Hockey staff page". Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ Petranek, Jan (August 20, 1971). "Wildcat Cagers To Stay In Bear Down". Tucson Daily Citizen. p. 53.
- ^ "Elvis Presley Concerts In Tucson". www.library.pima.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ TucsonSentinel.com; Robbins, Natalie. "Trump heading to Sierra Vista but still owes city of Tucson $82k from 2016 rally". TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ "Comic ventriloquist Dunham bringing 'Seriously?' tour to Tucson Arena". Tucson.com.
- ^ Burch, Cathalena E. "Tucson Arena renovations aimed at enhancing audience experience". tucson.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "TCC Arena remodel finished | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona". Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ^ Star, Darren DaRonco Arizona Daily. "Rio Nuevo seeks 'Good Vibrations' as arena renovations near end". tucson.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ VenuesNow. "VenuesNow :: SMG to Manage Tucson Convention Center". www.venuestoday.com. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
External links
[edit]Tucson Convention Center
View on GrokipediaHistory
Construction and Early Years
The construction of the Tucson Community Center began around 1970 on a 27-acre site in downtown Tucson, Arizona, as part of an urban renewal effort to revitalize the area. The site was previously occupied by the vibrant El Barrio Libre neighborhood, which was demolished under the Pueblo Center Redevelopment Project.[9][10][11] Funded through a 1966 municipal bond issue approved for the Pueblo Center Redevelopment Project, the development was designed by local architectural firms Cain, Nelson & Wares and Friedman & Jobusch in a joint venture, with landscape architecture by renowned modernist Garrett Eckbo of EDAW.[12][2] The project aimed to create a multi-purpose hub for conventions, sports, and entertainment, featuring interconnected public spaces with terraces, pools, and waterfalls to foster community interaction.[13] The facility opened on November 6, 1971, initially named the Tucson Community Center, with a primary focus on hosting large-scale events to draw visitors to downtown Tucson.[2] Its initial setup included an 8,962-seat arena for sports and concerts, basic exhibition halls totaling approximately 100,000 square feet for trade shows and gatherings, and rudimentary performing spaces such as a 2,300-seat music hall and a 525-seat theater.[3][14] Early operations emphasized versatility, quickly establishing the venue as a regional anchor for entertainment and civic activities. In 2002, it was renamed the Tucson Convention Center to better reflect its evolving role in hosting expansive conventions.[15] Key early milestones highlighted the center's cultural impact, including Elvis Presley concerts on November 9, 1972, and June 1, 1976, which drew massive crowds and solidified its status as a premier music and sports venue in the Southwest.[16] These events, among others, helped generate economic activity and community engagement during the 1970s and 1980s. The complex's mid-century modern design and landscape, praised for integrating art and public space, earned recognition with an American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award in 1978.[12] In 2015, the Tucson Community Center Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance and contributions to local culture.[17] Subsequent renovations would build on this foundation to address growing demands.[18]Renovations and Expansions
In 2014, the Tucson Arena within the Tucson Convention Center underwent a $7.8 million renovation project funded by the Rio Nuevo District, which introduced new locker rooms, upgraded sound and video systems, renovated bathrooms, enhanced lighting, new seating installations, a commercial kitchen, and a video scoreboard to improve functionality for sports and entertainment events.[19][20] A broader $100 million renovation and expansion initiative, spanning 2013 to 2024 and overseen by the Rio Nuevo District across the 27-acre downtown campus, added 32,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space, resulting in a total of 233,000 square feet available for use.[19][21] Key updates encompassed modernization of the Grand Ballroom to accommodate up to 1,200 guests in banquet seating, refurbishments to the South Exhibition Hall as part of the overall 113,940 square feet of exhibition space, and integration of advanced digital technologies for improved event operations and attendee experiences.[4][22][23] To enhance accessibility and visitor convenience, two new parking structures were completed in August 2023, providing more than 1,000 additional spaces adjacent to the campus.[21][24] The project also preserved and integrated cultural and historical elements, including the Tucson Musicians Museum—a free-admission exhibit dedicated to Tucson's musical heritage with annual inductee ceremonies—and key sites such as Alva Torres Plaza, honoring community activist Alva Bustamante Torres, and the restored La Placita village area evoking the site's pre-1971 Mexican-era roots.[1][25][26] Management of the Tucson Convention Center transitioned to ASM Global following its 2019 formation from the merger of AEG Facilities and SMG, enabling enhanced operational expertise for events and programming.[6][3] Overall, these upgrades aimed to boost economic vitality and cultural significance in downtown Tucson by attracting larger conventions, performances, and gatherings while honoring the venue's historical context.[19][24]Facilities
Tucson Arena
The Tucson Arena serves as the primary multi-purpose indoor venue within the Tucson Convention Center, designed for large-scale sports, concerts, and entertainment events. It features a standard seating capacity of 8,962 in theater-style configuration, making it suitable for a wide range of spectator gatherings. The arena's flexible layout allows reconfiguration for specific uses, such as ice hockey, where capacity reduces to 6,791 seats to accommodate dasher boards and the rink setup.[3][27] The arena's floor measures 246 feet by 120 feet with a ceiling height of 48 feet, providing ample space for a full-size hockey rink of 85 feet by 200 feet and compatibility with standard basketball court dimensions. This design supports diverse programming, including ice shows and court-based sports, while maintaining a climate-controlled environment for year-round operations. Accessibility is enhanced through multiple entrances, including an enclosed breezeway that connects directly to the adjacent exhibition halls, facilitating seamless event flow across the convention center complex.[3][28][3] Following the multi-phase renovation project completed in 2024, the arena incorporates upgraded technical features such as professional-grade lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, and advanced video capabilities, including scoreboards and electronics, to elevate the audience experience for sports and performances. Enhanced ice-making equipment supports professional-level hockey and ice events, while energy-efficient HVAC systems contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing operational energy use. Safety improvements include updated restroom facilities and general infrastructure enhancements, ensuring compliance with modern building codes for emergency egress and patron comfort.[19][29][30]Performing Arts Venues
The Tucson Convention Center features two dedicated performing arts venues designed for cultural and artistic presentations: the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall and the Leo Rich Theater. These spaces emphasize theatrical precision and acoustic quality, supporting a range of performances from symphonies and operas to chamber music and plays.[31][32] The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, formerly known as the Tucson Music Hall and renamed in 2022 to honor the Grammy-winning singer born in Tucson, offers 2,289 seats in a continental-style arrangement across orchestra, loge, and balcony levels. Its 125-foot by 49.5-foot stage includes an orchestra pit and is equipped for large-scale productions such as symphonies, ballets, and concerts, with acoustics optimized for orchestral and vocal performances as the primary home of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Arizona Opera. The venue features a fly loft for scenery handling, enabling complex set designs for theatrical events. Post-renovation upgrades completed as part of the center's multi-phase modernization include advanced digital sound systems and LED lighting to enhance production quality.[33][31][34][35][36] In contrast, the Leo Rich Theater provides an intimate 551-seat capacity, including 511 fixed seats and up to 40 in the adjustable pit, configured as a proscenium stage that can convert to thrust staging by raising the pit to floor level for closer performer-audience interaction. This setup suits smaller-scale events like chamber music, plays, and recitals, fostering a sense of proximity in its 130-foot by 40-foot stage area. The theater's design prioritizes acoustic clarity for nuanced performances, with flexible staging options that accommodate diverse artistic needs.[32][37] Both venues share backstage amenities, including green rooms, choral dressing rooms, and star dressing rooms for performers, along with dedicated loading docks for efficient equipment transport. They integrate with the adjacent Tucson Musicians Museum, allowing for pre-show cultural exhibits that highlight local musical heritage and enhance visitor engagement. Renovations conducted between 2019 and 2024 across the convention center campus modernized these theaters with improved rigging systems, enhanced projection capabilities, and accessibility features such as wheelchair seating areas and real-time captioning services.[31][32][38][1][39][19][36]Meeting and Exhibition Spaces
The Tucson Convention Center features flexible exhibition spaces designed for trade shows, expositions, and large-scale gatherings, including the combined South Exhibition Halls (A, B, and C) totaling 89,760 square feet and the North Exhibition Hall at 13,650 square feet. These areas provide a total of approximately 103,410 square feet of exhibit space with 26-foot ceilings in the South Halls and 19 feet in the North Hall, allowing for versatile configurations such as up to 429 standard 10x10 booths in the full South Halls or 45 in the North Hall. Although the spaces include 16 structural columns in the South Halls, they support high-volume events with dedicated loading docks for efficient freight access and utility ports spaced every 30 feet for power and data needs.[40][4] The Grand Ballroom offers 20,164 square feet of elegant, divisible space suitable for banquets, weddings, and galas, with a 20-foot ceiling and dimensions of 142 by 142 feet. It can accommodate up to 1,600 guests in theater-style seating or 1,200 in banquet setup, and is sectionable into three rooms: the 10,082-square-foot Copper Ballroom and the 5,041-square-foot Crystal and Turquoise Ballrooms each. Built-in audiovisual capabilities, including a matrix dimming system, enhance presentations, while movable partitions enable customized layouts.[40] Complementing these are 29 configurable meeting rooms across the West and North wings, providing a total of approximately 52,000 square feet for breakout sessions, workshops, and smaller assemblies, including recent additions from a 2023 expansion that incorporated 32,000 square feet of new meeting space. These rooms, ranging from 390-square-foot boardrooms to larger 9,240-square-foot combinations like Coconino-Mohave, feature 16-foot ceilings, built-in projectors, high-speed Wi-Fi, and flexible furnishings such as tables and chairs. An adjacent 11,236-square-foot Grand Lobby serves as pre-function space for registrations and receptions, supporting up to 350 standing guests.[21][40][4] Following the completion of a $100 million renovation in early 2024, the meeting and exhibition areas received updates including refurbished flooring in key halls, enhanced modular partitions for better divisibility, and integrated catering facilities managed exclusively by SAVOR…Tucson, which offers customizable menus drawing from local Southwestern flavors. These improvements, part of a broader campus overhaul adding public amenities and connectivity, ensure seamless attendee logistics with direct access to over 900 on-site parking spaces.[19][41][21]| Space | Square Footage | Key Capacities (Theater / Banquet / Reception) | Ceiling Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Exhibition Halls (A, B, C) | 89,760 | 6,000 / N/A / 6,000 | 26 ft |
| North Exhibition Hall | 13,650 | 800 / N/A / 800 | 19 ft |
| Grand Ballroom | 20,164 | 1,600 / 1,200 / 1,600 | 20 ft |
| Meeting Rooms (Total) | ~52,000 | Varies (e.g., 500 / 300 / 500 for 5,600 sq ft combos) | 16 ft |
| Grand Lobby (Pre-function) | 11,236 | 350 / 200 / 350 | 20 ft |