Toyota Center (Kennewick, Washington)

Toyota Center (Kennewick, Washington) is a multi-purpose arena located in Kennewick, part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area. It serves as the primary home for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League and has hosted a wide variety of concerts, family shows, and sporting events since its opening in 2000. The facility is owned by the Public Facilities District of Benton County and is managed by the Oak View Group.

History

Planning for the arena began in the late 1990s to replace the aging Tri-Cities Coliseum and provide a modern home for the Tri-City Americans. Groundbreaking occurred in 1999, with the venue originally known as the Tri-Cities Coliseum during its construction phase. The naming rights were secured by Toyota through a partnership with Lithia Motors, leading to its official opening as the Toyota Center on December 30, 2000, with a game between the Americans and the Spokane Chiefs. The arena's development was a key project for the Tri-Cities region, spearheaded by the local Public Facilities District and funded in part by a voter-approved sales tax increase.

Facilities and design

Designed by the Seattle-based firm LMN Architects, the Toyota Center features a contemporary design with a distinctive curved roofline. The primary structure was engineered by Magnusson Klemencic Associates and built by Mortenson Construction. Its interior includes 22 luxury suites, a club lounge, and multiple concession stands operated by Levy Restaurants. The arena floor can be configured for ice hockey, basketball, concerts, and trade shows, supported by a permanent dasher board system for hockey and a high-capacity stage setup for touring productions. The venue is also equipped with a modern Jumbotron and a distributed sound system from L-Acoustics.

Events

The Toyota Center hosts a diverse annual event calendar, headlined by the home games of the Tri-City Americans. It has been a regular stop for major concert tours by artists such as Elton John, Carrie Underwood, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The arena has also hosted professional wrestling events from WWE and AEW, as well as family-oriented shows like Disney on Ice and the Harlem Globetrotters. It served as the home arena for the Washington Stealth of the National Lacrosse League from 2010 to 2013 and has been a venue for NCAA March Madness viewing parties and local high school state championship tournaments.

Tenants

The primary and original tenant is the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, who have played at the arena since its inaugural 2000-2001 season. From 2010 to 2013, the Washington Stealth of the NLL relocated from Everett to make the Toyota Center their home. The arena also occasionally hosts the WIAA high school state basketball tournaments and serves as a venue for events by Columbia Basin College and local community organizations. No other major professional team has been a permanent tenant since the departure of the Washington Stealth.

Management and operations

The Toyota Center is owned by the Public Facilities District of Benton County. Day-to-day management and booking are handled by the Oak View Group, a global venue management company. Corporate partnerships are a key revenue source, with Toyota holding the naming rights and Bud Light serving as a longtime presenting sponsor. The operations team coordinates with promoters like Live Nation and AEG Presents for concert bookings and works closely with the WHL office for league scheduling. The facility also employs staff from ASM Global for event security and guest services. Category:Arenas in Washington (state) Category:Sports venues in Benton County, Washington Category:Tri-City Americans