La Crosse Center
Encyclopedia
The La Crosse Center is a multi-purpose arena
in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin
, that was built in 1980. The arena can seat between 5,000 and 7,500 depending on the type of event it is being used for.
The Center is also a convention center; in addition to the arena, which offers 21600 square feet (2,006.7 m²) of exhibit space, two locker rooms, and three dressing rooms. There is also a 14935 square feet (1,388 m²) North Hall which can open up to the arena to be used in combination, and a 38740 square feet (3,599 m²) South Exhibit Hall; all three venues total 75275 square feet (6,993 m²) of exhibit space. The complex also contains 9432 square feet (876 m²) of meeting room space in five meeting rooms, which can be divided into nine meeting rooms.
While both exhibit halls and the arena are used for trade shows, conventions, meetings and banquets, the arena is also used for sporting events, concerts, circus
es, ice shows, and other events.
In addition, the center is home to countless exhibits and shows. One noteworthy event is the annual Bi-State Classic high school wrestling tournament. The center holds ten full-size wrestling mats and up to 55 wrestling squads.
The most recent change to the La Crosse Center was a fifty foot skywalk spanning over Second Street in downtown La Crosse. The skywalk links a five floor parking ramp with the east end of the convention center.
Notable events at the La Crosse Center: Music as a Weapon IV, WWE Raw, ECW and Smackdown, Larry The Cable Guy
, Ron White
, Bull riding, Monster trucks and The Harlem Globetrotters
.
The La Crosse Center is situated less than 300 feet (91.44 meters) from the banks of the Mississippi River
, and Riverside Park in Downtown La Crosse.
It has previously been home to three indoor football teams: The La Crosse River Rats, the La Crosse Night Train
and the La Crosse Spartans
; and two Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) teams: The La Crosse Catbirds
and the La Crosse Bobcats
.
The center has fielded bids for additional teams in United Indoor Football
, the United States Hockey League
, and the NBA Developmental League.
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...
in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
, that was built in 1980. The arena can seat between 5,000 and 7,500 depending on the type of event it is being used for.
The Center is also a convention center; in addition to the arena, which offers 21600 square feet (2,006.7 m²) of exhibit space, two locker rooms, and three dressing rooms. There is also a 14935 square feet (1,388 m²) North Hall which can open up to the arena to be used in combination, and a 38740 square feet (3,599 m²) South Exhibit Hall; all three venues total 75275 square feet (6,993 m²) of exhibit space. The complex also contains 9432 square feet (876 m²) of meeting room space in five meeting rooms, which can be divided into nine meeting rooms.
While both exhibit halls and the arena are used for trade shows, conventions, meetings and banquets, the arena is also used for sporting events, concerts, circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
es, ice shows, and other events.
In addition, the center is home to countless exhibits and shows. One noteworthy event is the annual Bi-State Classic high school wrestling tournament. The center holds ten full-size wrestling mats and up to 55 wrestling squads.
The most recent change to the La Crosse Center was a fifty foot skywalk spanning over Second Street in downtown La Crosse. The skywalk links a five floor parking ramp with the east end of the convention center.
Notable events at the La Crosse Center: Music as a Weapon IV, WWE Raw, ECW and Smackdown, Larry The Cable Guy
Larry the Cable Guy
Daniel Lawrence Whitney , better known by his stage name and character Larry the Cable Guy, is an American comedian, actor, and former radio personality....
, Ron White
Ron White
Ronald "Ron" White is an American stand up comedian and satirist who has had two Grammy Award-nominations, and is RIAA certified 10x Platinum for CD and DVD sales of over 10 million units...
, Bull riding, Monster trucks and The Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
.
The La Crosse Center is situated less than 300 feet (91.44 meters) from the banks of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, and Riverside Park in Downtown La Crosse.
Tenants
The La Crosse Skating Sirens began competing at the La Crosse Center in 2009. The Skating Sirens are a nationally "bouting" women's flat-track roller derby team.It has previously been home to three indoor football teams: The La Crosse River Rats, the La Crosse Night Train
La Crosse Night Train
The La Crosse Night Train were a professional indoor football team. They were a member of the NIFL. In 2004, they were going to play in the APFL as the Wisconsin Locomotives, however they folded without playing a game. They played their home games at La Crosse Center...
and the La Crosse Spartans
La Crosse Spartans
The La Crosse Spartans were a professional indoor football team. They were a member of the Indoor Football League. They played their home games at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin....
; and two Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) teams: The La Crosse Catbirds
La Crosse Catbirds
The La Crosse Catbirds was an American basketball team based in La Crosse, Wisconsin and member of the Continental Basketball Association. The team has since disbanded.The Catbirds were the 1990 and 1992 CBA champions...
and the La Crosse Bobcats
La Crosse Bobcats
The La Crosse Bobcats were a Continental Basketball Association basketball team located in La Crosse, Wisconsin from 1996 to the league's bankruptcy in February 2001. The Bobcats were the second CBA team located in La Crosse; previously, the La Crosse Catbirds played from 1985 to 1994...
.
The center has fielded bids for additional teams in United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football was a United States indoor football league that started in 2005. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion and two from arenafootball2 took their franchises and formed their own league...
, the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
, and the NBA Developmental League.