Huntington Center (Toledo, Ohio) Explained

Stadium Name:Huntington Center
Logo Image:File:Huntington_Center.jpg
Pushpin Map:Ohio#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Ohio##Location within the United States
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label:Huntington Center
Address:500 Jefferson Avenue
Location:Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Broke Ground:October 1, 2007
Opened:October 3, 2009[1]
Owner:Lucas County
Operator:ASM Global
Surface:Concrete
Construction Cost:$105 million
($ in dollars)
Architect:HNTB
The Collaborative Inc.
Project Manager:Project Management Consultants LLC[2]
Structural Engineer:Poggemeyer Design Group[3]
Services Engineer:M-E Engineers, Inc.[4]
General Contractor:Lathrop/R. Gant LLC[5]
Former Names:Lucas County Arena (2009 - 2010)
Tenants:Toledo Walleye (ECHL) (2009 - present)
Toledo Crush (LFL) (2014)
Seating Capacity:Concerts: 4,784 (half-house)
5,903 (3/4 house)
7,286 (End-stage)
9,341 (center-stage)
Basketball: 8,000
Ice Hockey: 7,389 (8,300 with standing room)

The Huntington Center is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena[6] in downtown Toledo, Ohio. It was completed in 2009[7] and cost $105 million to build.[8] It replaced the Toledo Sports Arena, which has since been demolished.[9]

It serves as the home of the Toledo Walleye ECHL ice hockey team,[10] and was the home of the Toledo Crush of the Legends Football League for the 2014 season.[11]

History

After a successful partnership on the Mud Hens Stadium (Fifth Third Field), the Lucas County Commissioners teamed with HNTB Architecture Inc., a national sports architecture firm located in Kansas City; The Collaborative Inc., of Toledo; and Poggemeyer Design Group, of Toledo, for a new arena.[12]

The arena was designed as the first new LEED sports arena in the United States. The arena's signature green design element is a 900square feet "green wall" outside of the building, to feature the use of plant life on the exterior of the building to help cool the arena by shading the glass-enclosed main entrance of the arena. The arena's location near mass transit systems, use of a light-colored roof membrane to reflect heat and sunlight, and underground cisterns collecting rain water to re-use for landscaping purposes around the arena, are also emphasized to earn LEED points for the project.[6]

The Huntington Center opened in 2009.

Notable events

The arena is part of a complex that includes SeaGate Convention Centre and Fifth Third Field. The first person to perform at this venue was Jeff Dunham.

Other performances that have happened at the Huntington Center include: Janet Jackson, Daughtry, Tool, Lil' Wayne, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Elton John, Brad Paisley, Stevie Nicks, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Hunter Hayes, Bob Seger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, TobyMac, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Ying Yang Twins, & Disturbed. It's also the Toledo-area stop for WWE. All Elite Wrestling debuted in Toledo with AEW Collision on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated bought the naming rights to Lucas County Arena in April 2010 and renamed it as the Huntington Center. The six-year, $2.1 million naming rights and sponsorship agreement includes three renewal options of six years each, and could mean total Huntington payments of $11 million. The proceeds are to be applied to paying down the arena's $90 million debt.[13]

The Huntington Center hosted the 2019 CCM/ECHL All Star Classic on January 21, 2019.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Lucas County Arena Sparkles as Thousands Get Sneak Peek. Ryan E.. Smith. Toledo Blade. October 4, 2009. February 12, 2013.
  2. https://archive.today/20120716083538/http://www.aboutpmc.com/projects/profile.php?ID=35 Project Management Consultants: Lucas County Arena
  3. Web site: Huntington Center Superstructure & Sustainable Site Design. Poggemeyer Design Group. October 22, 2011.
  4. http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/building-types/arenas/ohio/projects/1000748052/ Lucas County Multi Purpose Arena Bp 2
  5. News: Commissioners Seek Arena Work for Minority Firms. Joe. Vardon. Toledo Blade. May 22, 2007. February 12, 2013.
  6. News: Toledo Project in the Running for First New "Green" Arena. Don. Muret. SportsBusiness Journal. June 23, 2008. July 13, 2008.
  7. News: Groundbreaking Set for Downtown Toledo Arena. Toledo Blade. September 28, 2007. March 27, 2008.
  8. News: Building Costs Vary for Arena Downtown Toledo. Joe. Vardon. Toledo Blade. October 10, 2007. March 27, 2008.
  9. News: Demolition Work for Arena Likely to Begin in Summer. Erica. Blake. Toledo Blade. January 15, 2007. March 27, 2008.
  10. Web site: Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. Acquire ECHL Hockey Team. Jason. Griffin. April 16, 2007. Toledo Arena Sports, Inc.. March 27, 2008.
  11. Web site: Cleveland Losing its Lingerie Sporting Football Team the Crush to Toledo | Cleveland Leader . 2014-08-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140707024356/http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/21900 . 2014-07-07 .
  12. Web site: Lucas County Arena Project. Lucas County. January 1, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080125182233/http://www.lucascountyarena.com/. January 25, 2008. dead.
  13. News: Downtown Toledo Arena Gets a New Name; Bank Agrees to Purchase Rights for $2.1 Million. Larry P.. Vellequette. Toledo Blade. April 16, 2010. April 16, 2010.
  14. Web site: Walleye to host 2019 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic . 2017-04-10 . 2017-04-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174117/https://www.echl.com/toledo-walleye-host-2019-ccm-echl-star-classic . 2018-03-14 . dead .