U.S. Cellular Center (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
| Former names | Five Seasons Center |
|---|---|
| Location | 370 1st Avenue Northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 |
| Owner | City of Cedar Rapids |
| Operator | VenuWorks |
| Capacity | 6,900 (Basketball) 8,600 (Concerts) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1977 |
| Opened | January 25, 1979 |
| Renovated | June 2013 |
| Closed | July 2011 |
| Construction cost | $8 million ($26.4 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Tenants | |
|
Iowa Cornets (WBL) (1978–1980) Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets (CBA) (1988–1991) Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters (GBA) (1992–1993) Cedar Rapids River Raiders (USBL) (2004) Cedar Rapids Titans (IFL) (2014–present) Cedar Rapids Rampage (MASL) (2015–present) |
|
U.S. Cellular Center (formerly Five Seasons Center) is a multi-purpose arena located in the downtown area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between 1965 and 1977. The initial construction cost was approximately $7 million for the arena and facilities. The city approved an additional $1 million to build an adjacent multi-level parking facility connected to the center by a skywalk. The center is adjoined by a 16-story DoubleTree hotel facility built directly above the arena.
The center hosts local sporting events and concerts, most notably the Iowa State High School Girls Volleyball Tournament and the Iowa High School Team Dual Wrestling Championships. It was opened in 1979 as the Five Seasons Center, and hosted the English progressive-rock band Yes as its first official concert event on April 25, 1979. The arena has a basketball capacity of about 6,900 and can seat up to 8,600 for concerts. It served as the primary sports and entertainment venue in Eastern Iowa until the completion of Carver–Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City four years later. Former professional tenants include the Cedar Rapids River Raiders of the United States Basketball League, the Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters of the Global Basketball Association and the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the Continental Basketball Association. Numerous commencement ceremonies are held at the arena.
The venue hosted the initial WCW/nWo Souled Out event in 1997. It also hosted a WCW Clash of the Champions event in 1994 and a WCW Monday Nitro event in 1999. As the Five Seasons Center, it was the site of two early Ultimate Fighting Championship events: UFC 21 in 1999, and UFC 26 the following year.
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