Patriot Center

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Patriot Center
Patriot Center West Entrance
Location	4500 Patriot Circle Fairfax, VA 22030
Coordinates	38°49′37″N 77°18′35″W / 38.82694°N 77.30972°W / 38.82694; -77.30972Coordinates: 38°49′37″N 77°18′35″W / 38.82694°N 77.30972°W / 38.82694; -77.30972
Broke ground	1982
Opened	October 4, 1985[1]
Owner	George Mason University
Operator	Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Surface	Multi-surface
Construction cost	$16 million[2] ($34.6 million in 2012 dollars[3])
Architect	HOK Sport Mosley Architects
Capacity	Basketball: 10,000
Tenants
George Mason Patriots Washington Commandos (AFL) (1989)

The Patriot Center is a 10,000-seat arena in Fairfax, Virginia. It is located on the campus of George Mason University (which has over 30,000 students), and has attracted 9.6 million people to over 2,958 events. In 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 7 nationwide and No. 12 worldwide according to ticket sales for venues with capacities between 10,001 and 15,000 by trade publication Venues Today. Also in 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 8 nationwide and No. 18 worldwide according to top grossing venues with a capacity between 10,001 and 15,000 by Billboard magazine.^[4]

History

The Patriot Center is the first university venue to be managed by a private company, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, who also owns and manages Verizon Center in Washington D.C. It opened on October 4, 1985, when the New York Knicks played the Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards ) in a pre-season game, debuting the first game of future Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Patrick Ewing. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs also made his first professional appearance. The arena is home to the George Mason University basketball teams, as well as concerts and family shows, with the 17,000 square feet (1,600 m²) of space.^[5]

In 1990, the Patriot Center held the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championships .In 1986, the Patriot Center hosted the first men’s CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) Tournament and hosted its first women’s CAA Tournament in 2005. The Patriots have amassed an overall record of 220–92 at the Patriot Center. The Patriots are also 85–10 in the Patriot Center against Colonial Athletic Association opponents. During the 2010–2011 men's NCAA basketball season, the Patriots amassed a perfect 13–0 home record, which was the second time that occurred in three seasons.

Renovations and recent events

Inside before the Mason vs Bucknell game

The arena has recently undergone a $10 million renovation, adding new concession stands, hospitality area, locker rooms and bathrooms, and an improved main concourse. This year, February 4, 2012, GMU men’s basketball team set an attendance record against Old Dominion University on homecoming, which then was reached again against James Madison University; both games were won by double digits. The Patriot Center also graduates many students of Northern Virginia high schools.

The Patriot Center hosted the sold-out UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz on January 11, 2010. That was the first time that the UFC had staged an event in the state of Virginia.^[6]

On February 4th, 2012, the Patriot Center debuted a new center court scoreboard against conference rival Old Dominion University.^[7]

Records

Men's Basketball Game - 9,900 on February 4, 2012 vs Old Dominion University
Concert - Phish - 10,356
Grossing Concert - Bruce Springsteen in 2005, $573,885
Grossing Family Show - The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus in 2009, $1.86 million

References

1. ^ "Knicks Lose in Ewing's Debut". Gainesville Sun. October 5, 1985. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yCURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6909,1551027&dq=en. Retrieved February 15, 2012. 
2. ^ George Mason Timeline
3. ^ Staff. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2012. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
4. ^ Staff (November 27, 2011). "Staff editorial: Rigging some revenue". Diamondback Online. http://www.diamondbackonline.com/opinion/staff-editorial-rigging-some-revenue-1.2715706#.T30oItUZ33A. Retrieved 5 April 2012. 
5. ^ "Patriot Center". George Mason University. http://www.gomason.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25200&ATCLID=205054690. Retrieved 5 April 2012. 
6. ^ "UFC Fight Night 20 targeted for Jan. 11 in Virginia, Spike TV to broadcast (Updated)". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-13. http://mmajunkie.com/news/16502/ufc-fight-night-20-targeted-for-jan-11-in-virginia-spike-tv-to-broadcast.mma. Retrieved 2010-10-15. 
7. ^ "What's New at the Patriot Center". George Mason Athletics. 01/27/2012. http://www.gomason.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25200&ATCLID=205369503. Retrieved 5 April 2012. 

External links

• Patriot Center Official Website