US Airways Center

Arizona Rattlers (AFL, 1992 ) Phoenix Suns (NBA since 1992) Arizona Sand Sharks ( CISL, 1993-1997) Phoenix Coyotes (NHL, 1996-2003 ) Phoenix Mercury (WNBA since 1997) Phoenix RoadRunners ( ECHL, 2005-2009)

The U.S. Airways Center (until 2005 America West Arena) is an indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona. In it, among other things, the basketball team Phoenix Suns plays its home games.

Name

The naming rights to the arena were acquired after the construction of the airline America West. After the merger with U.S. Airways, the name was changed in January 2006.

History

Construction of the arena began in 1988 when the owner of the Suns, Jerry Colangelo, the old home, wanted to replace the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The first Games were held there in 1993. The U.S. Airways Center at basketball games space for 18,422 visitors, at the hockey games for 16,210.

The Arena is part of the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Arena Development, LP operated. The construction costs amounted to 90 million U.S. dollars. Architect Ellerbe Becket was the arena.

Home team

In U.S. Airways Center several sports teams are located in Phoenix. The best known is the NBA team the Suns. In addition, there play the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and by 2009, the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL. Women Sport is from the Phoenix Mercury (Women's National Basketball Association) operated.

The Einhockeyteam the Phoenix Coyotes ( National Hockey League) played there from 1996/97 to December 2003. Since the arena was actually too small for a hockey area, the capacity was reduced to 16,210 seats, although the view from some seats was restricted so that the team in 2003 moved to the Glendale Arena. Between 1993 and 1997, also played the Continental Indoor Soccer League team the Arizona Sand Sharks in the America West Arena.

Individual Events

1995 NBA All- Star Game was held at the America West Arena. In addition, the arena was the venue for the wrestling events SummerSlam 2003 and Judgment Day 2006. Moreover, the arena is used as a venue for boxing matches. Among other things, there have denied Oscar de la Hoya and Michael Carbajal fights.

Several well-known musical acts such as the Spice Girls, * NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears appeared there.