Petersen Events Center

Petersen Events Center. The Petersen Events Center is a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is home to the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball and Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball teams, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and have produced notable players such as DeJuan Blair and Shavonte Zellous. The arena has also hosted various events, including concerts by Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift, as well as NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games.

● History

The Petersen Events Center was built on the site of the former Pitt Stadium, which was the home of the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1925 to 1999. The new arena was constructed between 2000 and 2002, with a total cost of $119 million, and was designed by AstroTurf and Rosser International. The arena was named after John Petersen, a University of Pittsburgh alumnus and donor, who contributed $10 million to the construction of the facility. The Petersen Events Center has hosted numerous events, including concerts by Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney, as well as ESPN-televised basketball games featuring teams such as the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball and North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball. The arena has also been used for University of Pittsburgh commencement ceremonies, featuring speakers such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

● Design and Construction

The Petersen Events Center was designed by AstroTurf and Rosser International, with Mascaro Construction Company serving as the general contractor. The arena features a unique design, with a curvilinear roof and a glass-enclosed atrium. The facility has a seating capacity of over 12,000 for basketball games, and can accommodate up to 15,000 for concerts and other events. The arena's design has been praised for its acoustics and visibility, with Pollstar magazine naming it one of the top 10 venues in the United States for concerts. The Petersen Events Center has also been recognized for its sustainability features, including a green roof and energy-efficient lighting and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, similar to those used in the Consol Energy Center and the PPG Paints Arena.

● Facilities and Amenities

The Petersen Events Center features a variety of facilities and amenities, including a weight room and training room for the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball and Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball teams. The arena also has a concourse with concessions and merchandise stands, as well as a club lounge with premium seating and catering services. The facility is also equipped with state-of-the-art sound and video systems, including a center-hung scoreboard and ribbon boards similar to those used in the Madison Square Garden and the United Center. The Petersen Events Center has also hosted events such as the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship and the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament, featuring teams such as the Connecticut Huskies women's basketball and the Xavier Musketeers men's basketball.

● Events and Tenants

The Petersen Events Center has hosted a wide range of events, including concerts, basketball games, and mixed martial arts events featuring organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The arena is home to the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball and Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball teams, which have produced notable players such as Sam Young and Waner Trojans. The facility has also hosted events such as the WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown, featuring wrestlers such as John Cena and The Rock. The Petersen Events Center has also been used for University of Pittsburgh events, including commencement ceremonies and career fairs, featuring speakers such as Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah Winfrey.

● Seating and Attendance

The Petersen Events Center has a seating capacity of over 12,000 for basketball games, and can accommodate up to 15,000 for concerts and other events. The arena has hosted numerous sold-out events, including concerts by Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, as well as Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball games against teams such as the Syracuse Orange men's basketball and the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball. The facility has also been recognized for its attendance figures, with the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team consistently ranking among the top 20 in the NCAA in terms of average attendance, similar to teams such as the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball and the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball. The Petersen Events Center has also hosted events such as the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, featuring teams such as the Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball and the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball.

Category:Indoor arenas in the United States