Times Union Center
Albany Firebirds (AFL ) ( 1990-2000) New York Kick ( NPSL ) ( 1990-1991) Albany Choppers ( IHL ) ( 1990-1991) Albany River Rats ( AHL ) ( 1993-2010 ) Siena Saints ( MAAC ) (since 1997) Albany Attack ( NLL ) ( 2000-2003) Albany Conquest ( AF2 ) ( 2002-2008 ) Albany Firebirds ( AF2 ) (2009 ) Albany Devils ( AHL ) (since 2010)
The Times Union Center is a multi-purpose hall in Albany (New York), which has a capacity of up to 17,500 people. The maximum seating capacity is 15,500 for sporting events. The building was designed by Crozier Associates, Clough Harbour & Associates and executed by Beltrone / MLB at a cost of $ 68.8 million.
The arena contains, among other things, 25 luxury lodges, each. Having 16 seats, cable TV, bathroom and refrigerator that are at the top of the inner shell The lodges are rented in each case to three years. The arena was opened on 30 January 1990 as the Knickerbocker Arena with a concert by Frank Sinatra.
The naming rights of the arena were sold to PepsiCo in 1997; Therefore, the arena was known until 2006 as the Pepsi Arena. In May 2006 the naming rights were sold to the Times Union, a regional newspaper, and therefore, the name of the arena since 1 January 2007 the Times Union Center. The building is managed by the Spectator Management Group.
Among the users of the arena include the Siena College men's basketball team, the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League and the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League 2 ( af2 ), but not the New York Knicks, who are at Madison Square Garden at home.
The Times Union Center is annually hosts the ECAC Hockey Championships, and often the venue for the annual Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference basketball tournament (1990-1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008-2010).
Since its opening, with Frank Sinatra, the Times Union Center is also a popular venue for major concerts due to its proximity to major cities such as New York, Boston and Montreal.
World Wrestling Entertainment has also used the arena often. From 1990 to 1998 189 833 WWF fans left center doors by the Times Union. Three superstars won their first WWE Championship in this arena. In 2000, the Pepsi Arena, the World Wrestling Federation 's No Mercy organized. Particularly noteworthy was the return of Steve Austin to the active competition, after he had been injured by Rikishi.