MGM Grand Garden Arena

MGM Grand Garden Arena

Concert bowl and seating c.2008
Former names	MGM Grand Sports Center (planning/construction) MGM Grand Garden Special Events Center (1993–95)
Address	3799 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109-4319
Location	MGM Grand Las Vegas, Las Vegas Strip, Paradise
Owner	MGM Resorts International
Capacity	17,157
Construction
Broke ground	October 7, 1991 (1991-10-07)
Opened	December 18, 1993 (1993-12-18)
Renovated	1997, 2000
Construction cost	$28.4 million
Architect	Veldon Simpson-Architect, Inc.
General contractor	Taylor International Corporation
Tenants
Las Vegas Dustdevils (CISL) (1994) Las Vegas Sting (AFL) (1994)

The MGM Grand Garden Arena (originally known as the MGM Grand Garden Special Events Center) is a multi-purpose arena located within the MGM Grand Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip.

Sporting events

The arena is well known for numerous professional boxing superfights, such as Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield, Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II, Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather vs. Saúl Álvarez and Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao.

From 1996 to 2000, it hosted wrestling's WCW Halloween Havoc PPV event. The UWF television event Blackjack Brawl was held at the venue in 1994.

As of May 2015, the arena has held 35 Ultimate Fighting Championship events (starting with UFC 34 and most recently UFC 197).

On September 7, 1996, Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson was held here; later that night, rapper Tupac Shakur (who attended the fight) was shot in a drive-by attack. He eventually succumbed to his injuries six days later.

On May 2, 2015 Floyd Mayweather Jr defended his world title in a highly anticipated match against fellow superstar Manny Pacquiao. The fight went the distance and Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr retained his title. The faces of the sold out crowd were fashion and entertainment icons such as hip-hop artist Jay-Z, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and former NBA basketball player Michael Jordan. In 1994, the Las Vegas Dustdevils an indoor soccer team in the Continental Indoor Soccer League played one season at the arena. It also previously served through 2015 as the pre-season home for select Los Angeles Kings games against the Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks, known as Frozen Fury.

During the 1990s, the arena served as the site for the WAC women's volleyball tournament. The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) held its annual World Finals event at the MGM Arena from 1994 to 1998 before moving to the Thomas & Mack Center in 1999 and then to T-Mobile Arena in 2016.

On March 13, 2012, it was announced that the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament would take place at the arena from at least 2013 through 2016^[1][2] and then to T-Mobile Arena in 2017 until 2020.

Beginning in 2014, the MGM Grand Garden Arena will host The MGM Grand Main Event, an 8-team college basketball tournament held during Monday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week of NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The MGM Grand Main Event features two four-team brackets, with each team playing two games in Las Vegas. Opening round games are played on campus.

The arena has hosted many editions of WCW Monday Nitro.

On October 4, 2014, MGM GGA held an NHL preseason game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings. On October 24, 2014, MGM GGA held an NBA preseason game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings.

Entertainment events

Gallery

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  MGM Grand Garden Arena Interior
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  MGM Grand Garden Arena Interior

References

External links

• MGM Grand Garden Arena

Coordinates: 36°6′17.31″N 115°10′7.01″W / 36.1048083°N 115.1686139°W / 36.1048083; -115.1686139