| Stadium Name: | United Supermarkets Arena |
| Nickname: | Entertainment Showcase of West Texas The USA |
| Location: | 1701 Indiana Avenue Lubbock, TX 79409 |
| Coordinates: | 33.5813°N -101.8866°W |
| Broke Ground: | March 26, 1997 |
| Opened: | October 1, 1999 |
| Owner: | Texas Tech University |
| Operator: | Texas Tech University |
| Surface: | Hardwood |
| Construction Cost: | $62.775 million ($ in dollars) |
| Architect: | Rosser International Joe D. Mckay AIA Architects |
| Project Manager: | Hill International |
| General Contractor: | Centex Construction Co. |
| Former Names: | United Spirit Arena (1999–2014) |
| Tenants: | Texas Tech Red Raiders (NCAA DI) (1999–present) |
| Seating Capacity: | 15,300 (present) 15,050 (1999–2001) |
United Supermarkets Arena (previously the United Spirit Arena) is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The 15,300-seat arena opened in 1999 and is home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball, Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball, and Texas Tech Red Raiders women's volleyball teams.
The City of Lubbock proposed replacing the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum with a new arena named after Buddy Holly. The proposed Buddy Holly Arena was to be located next to the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in downtown Lubbock, not on the Texas Tech University campus. A public referendum for a tax increase to build the arena failed to pass by as few as 600 votes. Texas Tech decided to move construction to an on-campus facility with private donations on the university's campus.
The arena was financed from a $500 million fundraising endeavor undertaken by John T. Montford, the first chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.[1] Groundbreaking began on March 26, 1997.[2] The arena opened on October 1, 1999, at a cost of $62.775 million.[3]
With a total of 15,300 seats, United Supermarkets Arena is slated to become the largest indoor collegiate sports arena in the state, pending the proposed demolition of University of Texas at Austin's Frank Erwin Center.
The arena features a Spanish Renaissance exterior facade, matching architectural style of the rest of the Texas Tech University campus. Architects for the project included Joe D. McKay AIA Architects, and Rosser International. Hill International was the project manager, and the general contractor was Centex Construction Co.[4] [5]
Standing at the southeast entrance of the arena is the eight-story Victory Tower. At 96feet, Victory Tower is the 16th-tallest structure in Lubbock.[6]
Lubbock-based supermarket chain United Supermarkets purchased the naming rights to the facility under a 20-year, $10 million naming-rights agreement with Texas Tech University in 1996. Until 2014, the arena was known as United Spirit Arena. Following a 10-year, $9.45 million naming-rights extension, the arena was renamed United Supermarkets Arena. Funds from the 10-year naming rights extension will go towards facility renovations.[7]
See also: Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball.
See also: Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball.
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball First and Second Rounds
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2013, and WNIT Tournament First Round 2023.
On October 2, 2016, the arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions.[10]
On May 4, 2007, the Houston Comets with former Lady Raiders Sheryl Swoopes and Erin Grant played a Women's National Basketball Association exhibition game against the Detroit Shock with Plenette Pierson, also a former Lady Raider.[11]
United Supermarkets Arena hosted WWE Raw (the first Raw ever to be hosted in Lubbock) in May 2006.
| width=12% style="text-align:center;;" | Date | width=10% style="text-align:center;;" | Artist | width=10% style="text-align:center;;" | Opening act(s) | width=16% style="text-align:center;;" | Tour / Concert name | width=10% style="text-align:center;;" | Attendance | width=10% style="text-align:center;;" | Revenue | width=20% style="text-align:center;;" | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2000 | — | — | — | First concert to be held at the arena. | |||||||||
| October 18, 2000 | Pearl Jam | Supergrass | Binaural Tour | Performance of "Parting Ways" was included on the Touring Band 2000 DVD. | |||||||||
| June 14, 2002 | — | 14,256 / 14,256 | $741,972 | After the second song, "(You Drive Me) Crazy", a power outage occurred and the rest of the concert had to be canceled. Spears, along with her tour manager, came onstage to explain the situation to the sold-out crowd. Due to Spears being overbooked for the entire tour, there was no time to reschedule the concert.[12] | |||||||||
| October 14, 2011 | — | 10,419 / 10,419 | $710,426 | Tickets for the show were sold out within 20 minutes after going on sale, the fastest sell-out in the arena's history. | |||||||||
| January 18, 2013 | — | — | |||||||||||
| March 17, 2013 | — | 13,255 / 13,255 | $1,201,105 | This concert marks Richie Sambora's last with the band. | |||||||||
| October 2, 2014 | — | 11,446 / 11,446 | $1,820,456 | Originally scheduled for June 14, but was postponed due to illness.[13] | |||||||||
| March 30, 2017 | — | — | — | This show was sold out and 4 more shows were added, all of which were sold out. | |||||||||
| March 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||
| April 1, 2017 | |||||||||||||
| April 2, 2017 | |||||||||||||
| March 2, 2019 | — | — | This concert featured the live debut of Here Comes Revenge.[14] | ||||||||||
| March 26, 2023 | TobyMac | CrowderCochren & CoTasha LaytonJon ReddickTerrian | Hits Deep Tour 2023 | — | — | ||||||||
| May 7, 2023 | For King & Country | — | What Are We Waiting For The Tour: Part II | — | — |