| United Spirit Arena | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | 1701 Indiana Ave Lubbock, TX 79409 |
| Broke ground | March 27, 1997 |
| Opened | November 20, 1999 |
| Owner | Texas Tech University |
| Operator | Texas Tech University |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction cost | $62 million USD[2] |
| Architect | Rosser International, Atlanta |
| Tenants | Texas Tech Red Raiders (NCAA) (1999-Present) |
| Capacity | 15,020 |
United Spirit Arena is a 15,020-seat multi-purpose arena in Lubbock, Texas. The arena opened in 1999. It is home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders basketball teams and volleyball team. United Supermarkets, a Lubbock based supermarket chain with numerous stores in west Texas, was a major contributor. Thus, it was granted naming rights. Prior to the building of the arena, the teams played in the nearby Lubbock Municipal Coliseum.
Notable events
- The first basketball game was played in the arena on November 19, 1999. Texas Tech lost 68-60 to Indiana, whose legendary coach Bob Knight would later become the head coach of Texas Tech's men's basketball team.
- Elton John's performance on February 8, 2000 was the first concert to be held at United Spirit Arena.
- In the summer of 2002, Britney Spears brought her Dream Within a Dream Tour to the arena. After 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.[1]
- United Spirit Arena has hosted WWE RAW (the first RAW ever to be hosted in Lubbock) in May 2006.
- On January 1, 2007, a 70-68 defeat of New Mexico by Texas Tech marked the 880th total win for Bobby Knight, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history.
- On May 4, 2007, the Houston Comets with former Lady Raiders Sheryl Swoopes and Erin Grant played a WNBA exhibition game against the Detroit Shock with Plenette Pierson, also a former Lady Raider.
References
- ^ Spears not returning despite arena officials plea. The Daily Toreador. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
- ^ Associated Press (Mar. 27, 1997). Texas Tech breaking new ground. Amarillo Globe-News.
- ^ a Altenbaumer, Kara (Oct. 1, 1999). A grand time on tap for unveiling of Spirit Arena. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
- ^ Rosetta, Randy (Nov. 20, 1999). Despite falling short, Red Raiders pleased. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
- ^ (April 2, 2007). Tickets on Sale Now for WNBA Game in Lubbock. TexasTech.com.
External links
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Colleges & Schools |
College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources • College of Architecture • College of Arts & Sciences • Rawls College of Business • College of Education • College of Engineering • Graduate School • Honors College • College of Human Sciences • School of Law • College of Mass Communications • College of Visual & Performing Arts |
 |
| Athletics |
Texas Tech Red Raiders • Football • Men's basketball • City Bank Coliseum • Dan Law Field • Jones AT&T Stadium • The Rawls Course • R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field • United Spirit Arena |
|
| Places | ||
| Student Life |
Notable People •The Daily Toreador • Goin' Band from Raiderland • KTXT-FM • KTXT-TV • La Ventana |
|
| Traditions | ||
|
|
|
|---|---|
| North Division | Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas) • Bob Devaney Sports Center (Nebraska) • Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State) • Coors Events Center (Colorado) • Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State) • Mizzou Arena (Missouri) |
| South Division | Ferrell Center (Baylor) • Frank Erwin Center (Texas) • Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State) • Lloyd Noble Center (Oklahoma) • Reed Arena (Texas A&M) • United Spirit Arena (Texas Tech) |
