Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Encyclopedia
The Big Sandy Superstore Arena, originally known as the Huntington Civic Center and later as the Huntington Civic Arena, is a municipal complex located in the downtown
area of Huntington
, West Virginia
one block west of Pullman Square
. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena consists of a 9,000-seat multi-purpose arena
and an attached conference center. It is currently home to numerous concerts, events and will be the home of the Huntington Hammer of the Ultimate Indoor Football League
for 2011. Marshall University
's graduation ceremonies are also held at the arena.
when it opened..
At the time, the city felt it would not be able to accommodate Marshall University basketball, and the arena was thus built in a location that Marshall objected to, and used a design that was not sports friendly. Marshall thus remained at the older Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
and then constructed its own on-campus arena in 1981. At first the building was very successful, however, the completion of a larger arena in nearby Charleston, and the 25 year delay in construction of what became Pullman Square cause the building to become a money losing effort for the city. The city then decided to turn the building over to SMG Property Management.
From 1993–2000, the facility, by then called the Huntington Civic Arena, was home to the Huntington Blizzard
of the ECHL
. At this time the arena was modified to accommodate hockey and other team sports. In addition, the arena served as the home of the River Cities LocoMotives
of the NIFL during their only season in 2001. The facility then served as the home for the American Indoor Football Association's Huntington Heroes
. The team moved to the arena after spending their inaugural season in 2006 at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
.
The naming rights for the facility were purchased by Big Sandy Superstore
s, a regional chain of furniture and appliance stores. It is currently managed by SMG.
The Ultimate Indoor Football League chose Huntington, West Virginia as the home of their second team. A contest is being held to name the new team.
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
area of Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
one block west of Pullman Square
Pullman Square
Pullman Square is a lifestyle center in downtown Huntington, West Virginia between 8th and 10th Street and 3rd Avenue and Veteran's Memorial Boulevard. It is located on what was known as the Superblock, a large urban renewal project that saw the demolishing of four city-square-blocks in 1970...
. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena consists of a 9,000-seat multi-purpose arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
and an attached conference center. It is currently home to numerous concerts, events and will be the home of the Huntington Hammer of the Ultimate Indoor Football League
Ultimate Indoor Football League
The Ultimate Indoor Football League is a regional professional indoor football league that began its inaugural season on February 18, 2011.-History:...
for 2011. Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
's graduation ceremonies are also held at the arena.
History
The $10.5 million Huntington Civic Center was completed in 1977 and was the largest in the state of West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
when it opened..
At the time, the city felt it would not be able to accommodate Marshall University basketball, and the arena was thus built in a location that Marshall objected to, and used a design that was not sports friendly. Marshall thus remained at the older Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
The Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse is a 8,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Huntington, West Virginia. It was built in 1950. Prior to the completion of the Huntington Civic Center in 1976, it was the only large arena in the city.The Fieldhouse was the home of the Marshall University basketball teams...
and then constructed its own on-campus arena in 1981. At first the building was very successful, however, the completion of a larger arena in nearby Charleston, and the 25 year delay in construction of what became Pullman Square cause the building to become a money losing effort for the city. The city then decided to turn the building over to SMG Property Management.
From 1993–2000, the facility, by then called the Huntington Civic Arena, was home to the Huntington Blizzard
Texas Wildcatters
The Texas Wildcatters, who took their name from Texas wildcatters, were an ECHL team based in Beaumont, Texas. They played their home games at the Ford Arena. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia and were known as the Huntington...
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. At this time the arena was modified to accommodate hockey and other team sports. In addition, the arena served as the home of the River Cities LocoMotives
River Cities LocoMotives
The River Cities LocoMotives were a professional indoor football team based in Huntington, West Virginia in 2001. The team competed in the inaugural season of the National Indoor Football League . The "Locos" played their home games in the Huntington Civic Arena...
of the NIFL during their only season in 2001. The facility then served as the home for the American Indoor Football Association's Huntington Heroes
Huntington Heroes
The Huntington Heroes were a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Heroes played their home games during their inaugural 2006 season at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia before moving to the larger Big Sandy...
. The team moved to the arena after spending their inaugural season in 2006 at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse
The Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse is a 8,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Huntington, West Virginia. It was built in 1950. Prior to the completion of the Huntington Civic Center in 1976, it was the only large arena in the city.The Fieldhouse was the home of the Marshall University basketball teams...
.
The naming rights for the facility were purchased by Big Sandy Superstore
Big Sandy Superstore
Big Sandy Superstore is a regional furniture store chain with stores located in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. In 1953, Big Sandy Superstore was founded in Ashland, Kentucky by Robert Van Hoose, Sr. Today the company is one of the nation’s top 100 furniture retailers, with 600 employees and...
s, a regional chain of furniture and appliance stores. It is currently managed by SMG.
The Ultimate Indoor Football League chose Huntington, West Virginia as the home of their second team. A contest is being held to name the new team.