U.S. Cellular Center
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Cellular Center is a multi-purpose arena
, located in the downtown section of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between 1965-1977. The initial construction cost was approximately $7 million for the arena and facilities. The city approved an additional $1 million to build an adjacent multi-level parking facility connected to the center by a skywalk. The center is adjoined by a 17-story Crowne Plaza
hotel facility built directly above the arena.
The center hosts local sporting events and concerts, most notably the Iowa State High School Girls Volleyball Tournament and the Iowa High School Team Dual Wrestling Championships. It was opened in 1979 as the Five Seasons Center, and hosted the English progressive-rock band Yes
as its first official concert event on April 25, 1979. The arena has a basketball capacity of about 7,200 and can seat up to 10,000 for concerts. It served as the primary sports and entertainment venue in Eastern Iowa until the completion of Carver-Hawkeye Arena
in Iowa City
four years later. Former professional tenants include the Cedar Rapids River Raiders of the United States Basketball League
, the Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters of the Global Basketball Association
and the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the Continental Basketball Association
. Numerous commencement ceremonies are held at the arena.
The venue hosted the initial WCW
/nWo Souled Out
event in 1997. It also hosted a WCW
Clash of the Champions
event in 1994 and a WCW
Monday Nitro event in 1999.
In Early June 2008, the U.S. Cellular Center was flooded with water from the Iowa Flood of 2008
.
The arena will close in July 2011 to undergo renovations as part of a larger project to build a convention complex around the site, which will also include renovations to the Crowne Plaza. The complex is expected to open in February 2013. Once renovations are complete, it will be home to the Cedar Rapids Titans
of the Indoor Football 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...
, located in the downtown section of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between 1965-1977. The initial construction cost was approximately $7 million for the arena and facilities. The city approved an additional $1 million to build an adjacent multi-level parking facility connected to the center by a skywalk. The center is adjoined by a 17-story Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. It forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands, which include InterContinental and Holiday Inn and operates in 52 countries, usually located in...
hotel facility built directly above the arena.
The center hosts local sporting events and concerts, most notably the Iowa State High School Girls Volleyball Tournament and the Iowa High School Team Dual Wrestling Championships. It was opened in 1979 as the Five Seasons Center, and hosted the English progressive-rock band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
as its first official concert event on April 25, 1979. The arena has a basketball capacity of about 7,200 and can seat up to 10,000 for concerts. It served as the primary sports and entertainment venue in Eastern Iowa until the completion of Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Carver–Hawkeye Arena is a 15,500-seat multi-purpose indoor arena located in Iowa City, Iowa. Opened in 1983, it is the home court for The University of Iowa Hawkeyes men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's wrestling, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. It was named for the...
in Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
four years later. Former professional tenants include the Cedar Rapids River Raiders of the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
, the Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters of the Global Basketball Association
Global Basketball Association
The Global Basketball Association was a minor league with various franchises in the United States. Teams were located throughout the South and Midwest...
and the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the 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 :...
. Numerous commencement ceremonies are held at the arena.
The venue hosted the initial WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
/nWo Souled Out
Souled Out
Souled Out was a professional wrestling pay-per-view promoted by World Championship Wrestling in the month of January from 1997 through 2000. It was originally started as an nWo PPV but it did not generate the revenue it hoped for so it was turned into a WCW and nWo co-promoted PPV...
event in 1997. It also hosted a WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
Clash of the Champions
Clash of the Champions
The Clash of the Champions were a series of professional wrestling television specials aired by World Championship Wrestling. The specials were supercards intended to feature pay-per-view caliber matches, similar to World Wrestling Federation's Saturday Night's Main Event.The first Clash of the...
event in 1994 and a WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
Monday Nitro event in 1999.
In Early June 2008, the U.S. Cellular Center was flooded with water from the Iowa Flood of 2008
Iowa flood of 2008
The Iowa flood of 2008 was a hydrological event involving most of the rivers in eastern Iowa beginning around June 8, 2008 and ending about July 1. Flooding continued on the Upper Mississippi River in the southeastern portion of the state for several more days...
.
The arena will close in July 2011 to undergo renovations as part of a larger project to build a convention complex around the site, which will also include renovations to the Crowne Plaza. The complex is expected to open in February 2013. Once renovations are complete, it will be home to the Cedar Rapids Titans
Cedar Rapids Titans
The Cedar Rapids Titans are a professional indoor football team due to begin play in the Indoor Football League for its 2012 season. The team is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with home games to be played at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena for their inaugural season before moving to the newly-renovated...
of the Indoor Football League
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
.