Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe, Arizona)

For the arena of this name in Des Moines, Iowa, see Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines). For the arena in Philadelphia formerly known as Wachovia Center, see Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia).
Wells Fargo Arena
Former names ASU Activity Center (1974–1997)
Location 600 East Veterans Way
Tempe, AZ 85287
Coordinates 33°25′28″N 111°55′51″W / 33.424524°N 111.930948°W / 33.424524; -111.930948Coordinates: 33°25′28″N 111°55′51″W / 33.424524°N 111.930948°W / 33.424524; -111.930948
Owner Arizona State University
Operator Arizona State University
Capacity 10,754 (2010–present)
13,947 (2007–2010)
14,198 (1997–2007)
14,287 (1981–1997)
14,227 (1974–1980)
Construction
Broke ground 1972
Opened April 29, 1974[1]
Construction cost $8 million
($38.5 million in 2016 dollars[2])
Architect Drover, Welch & Lindlan, Inc.[1]
General contractor Olson Construction Company[1]
Tenants
Arizona State Sun Devils (NCAA) (1974–present)

Wells Fargo Arena (formerly ASU Activity Center) is a 14,000-seat[3] multi-purpose arena located at 600 E Veterans Way in Tempe, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.

Constructed in the spring of 1974 as the ASU Activity Center and at the cost of $8 million, it is the home of multiple Arizona State University athletic teams, to include men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball, women's gymnastics, and men's wrestling. The facility also plays host to graduation ceremonies and a variety of concerts and shows. The building replaced Sun Devil Gym as the primary arena for the Sun Devils' basketball team.

Naming rights for the arena were purchased by Wells Fargo & Co. in 1997.

Design

The structure is 403 feet long, 340 feet wide and six stories high. The structure contains offices and locker rooms for men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball, and the men's and women's track and field team, along with a weight room, coaches and film rooms, and an equipment room.

Events

Led Zeppelin played their third-to-last show as part of their 1977 North American Tour

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band performed at the arena on November 5th, 1980 during the River Tour. Video and audio of the show were released in 2015 in conjunction with the band's The Ties That Bind commemorative box set, and their performance of "Badlands" was included on 1986's Live 1975–85 album.

It hosted the 1990 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament. Previously, the Sun Devils played at Sun Devil Gym.

The arena has also hosted the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in both 2015 and 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ASU Tempe Campus Buildings Survey, 1960-2007" (PDF). Arizona State University. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  2. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. Haller, Doug (December 4, 2010). "ASU Reduces Capacity at Wells Fargo Arena". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
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