U.S. Cellular Center
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It has been proposed that U.S. Cellular Center be renamed and moved to U.S. Cellular Center (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) (Discuss). |
| U.S. Cellular Center | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Five Seasons Center |
| Location | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| Broke ground | 1977 |
| Opened | January 25, 1979 |
| Renovated | February 2013 |
| Closed | July 2011 |
| Owner | City of Cedar Rapids |
| Operator | VenuWorks |
| Construction cost | $8 million ($25.6 million in 2012 dollars[1]) |
| Capacity | 7,200 (Basketball) 10,000 (Concerts) |
| Tenants | |
| Cedar Rapids Titans (IFL) (2013-future) | |
The U.S. Cellular Center is a multi-purpose arena, located in the downtown section of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between 1965-1977. The initial construction cost was approximately $7 million for the arena and facilities. The city approved an additional $1 million to build an adjacent multi-level parking facility connected to the center by a skywalk. The center is adjoined by a 17-story Crowne Plaza hotel facility built directly above the arena.
The center hosts local sporting events and concerts, most notably the Iowa State High School Girls Volleyball Tournament and the Iowa High School Team Dual Wrestling Championships. It was opened in 1979 as the Five Seasons Center, and hosted the English progressive-rock band Yes as its first official concert event on April 25, 1979. The arena has a basketball capacity of about 7,200 and can seat up to 10,000 for concerts. It served as the primary sports and entertainment venue in Eastern Iowa until the completion of Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City four years later. Former professional tenants include the Cedar Rapids River Raiders of the United States Basketball League, the Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters of the Global Basketball Association and the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the Continental Basketball Association. Numerous commencement ceremonies are held at the arena.
The venue hosted the initial WCW/nWo Souled Out event in 1997. It also hosted a WCW Clash of the Champions event in 1994 and a WCW Monday Nitro event in 1999.
In Early June 2008, the U.S. Cellular Center was flooded with water from the Iowa Flood of 2008.
The arena will close in July 2011 to undergo renovations as part of a larger project to build a convention complex around the site, which will also include renovations to the Crowne Plaza. The complex is expected to open in February 2013.[2] Once renovations are complete, it will be home to the Cedar Rapids Titans of the Indoor Football League.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- ^ "Cedar Rapids Convention Complex". City of Cedar Rapids. http://www.cedar-rapids.org/city-news/crprogress/events-center/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ http://thegazette.com/2011/08/29/pro-football-coming-to-cedar-rapids/
[edit] External links
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Coordinates: 41°58′48.79″N 91°40′2.79″W / 41.9802194°N 91.6674417°W
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