Save Mart Center
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The Save Mart Center is Fresno State's on-campus, multi-purpose arena in Fresno, California. The arena's ribbon cutting was October 27, 2003, with a community open house held on November 5, 2003. The first concert performance was Andrea Bocelli. It is home to the Fresno State Bulldogs basketball team and the Fresno Falcons ice hockey team. The venue is also known as a popular concert destination. Some of the more notable artists who have performed here are Metallica, Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Prince, and The Rolling Stones. Also, the 2004 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament and WWE Royal Rumble 2005 were held here. Madonna made her first appearance in Fresno on June 5 and 6, 2006 and was also the performer to play back-to-back shows in the Save Mart Center.
The Save Mart Center encompasses approximately 430,000 square feet on three primary levels (event level and two concourses) plus a club level mezzanine. The facility includes thirty-two revenue-generating suites and eight party suites, located on the main concourse level. Seating capacities are approximately 15,116 for basketball, 14,000 for hockey, 8,000 for half-house concerts, 15,500 for end-stage concerts, and 18,000 for center-stage concerts.
The arena's main exterior landmark is the thirteen-story, 93-foot Larry A. Shehadey Clock Tower, named for the founder of Producers Dairy Foods, a Fresno-based dairy company, who donated $3 million towards construction of the arena. The lobby at the arena's southeast entrance is named after Shehadey’s late wife, Elayne.
The majority of the funding for the facility came from two sources Save Mart Supermarkets donated $40 million dollars and the Pepsi Bottling Group donated a similar sum for exclusive beverage pouring rights to the university indefinitely. The building cost over one hundred million dollars to build and is the largest and newest privately funded complex at any university in the nation.
The Bulldog Foundation donated money for the following amenities at SaveMart Center:
- The Bulldog Foundation Community Room, which displays the names of past presidents, current officers, lifetime honorees and annual top fundraisers and used for show catering, premium seating holder dining and is also available for rent.
- The Bronze Bulldog at the Shehadey Lobby. Created by EMI, Inc., this massive bronze bulldog statue stands 10 feet high, is 7 feet wide, 9 feet long and tips the scales at 4,200 pounds.
“This is our mascot and he ain't no hound. He’s an English bull and weighs lots of pounds. He’s got two rows of teeth and a terrible frown. Hey, nobody’s kicking our dog around!!!”
Nine time capsule boxes were placed in the base of this massive statue early in 2004. The items within the time capsules represent all aspects of Fresno State University, including the Bulldog Foundation, administration, alumni, students and athletics. The time capsule will be opened early in the year 2054.
- The arena's display cases, located on the upper and main concourses and exhibiting equipment and other memorabilia of each current Bulldog sport. Additionally, the display case in the northwest corner spotlights the academic success of Fresno State’s student athletes.
- The Bulldog Walkway – a new, permanent, on-campus tribute to California State University, Fresno alumni, graduate and friends – located on the north side of Save Mart Center with the first three tiles honoring Col. Rick Husband, Lt. Cmdr. Otis Vincent Tolbert and Todd Beamer. Expected to eventually extend throughout the campus, the walkway consists of personalized tiles and bricks that will leave a lasting impression to those who hold Fresno State near and dear to their hearts.
External links
| Current arenas in the ECHL | ||
| American Conference | National Conference | |
|---|---|---|
| Arena at Gwinnett Center | Augusta Civic Center | Bi-Lo Center | Cambria County War Memorial Arena | Carolina Coliseum | St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice | Ford Arena1 | Germain Arena | North Charleston Coliseum | Nutter Center | Pensacola Civic Center | Sovereign Bank Arena | Sovereign Center | Toledo Sports Arena | U.S. Bank Arena2 | WesBanco Arena | E Center | iPayOne Center | Long Beach Sports Arena | Orleans Arena | Qwest Arena | Rabobank Arena | Save Mart Center | Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre| Stockton Arena | Sullivan Arena | US Airways Center | |
| 1 * The Ford Bank Arena will be the home of the Texas Wildcatters starting in 2006. | ||
| 2 The U.S. Bank Arena will be the home of the Cincinnati Cyclones starting in 2006. | ||
Arena's ribbon cutting was 10.27.04
First concert was Andrea Bocelli
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