T-Mobile Center

Coordinates: 39°05′51″N 94°34′49″W / 39.09750°N 94.58028°W / 39.09750; -94.58028
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

T-Mobile Center
AFL) (2008 (KC Brigade) 2011–2012 (KC Command) )
Big 12 men's basketball tournament (2008, 2010–present)
Kansas City Outlaws (PBR
) (2022-present)

T-Mobile Center (formerly Sprint Center) is a multi-purpose

Kemper Arena, which had been built in 1974 a few miles away in the West Bottoms
neighborhood.

History

Grand Boulevard entrance in 2008

The arena is owned by the city of Kansas City, Missouri.

Minneapolis, Minnesota. Groundbreaking was on June 24, 2005, and construction was completed on October 11, 2007, at US$276 million[7]
(equivalent to $406 million in 2023).

The complete exterior glass

LED video screen. The arena seats over 19,000 people and has 72 suites. Connected to its north side is the College Basketball Experience, which includes the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
.

In early 2006,

Staples Center in Los Angeles, and is widely credited with the initial success of the venue and for attracting top tier concert tours. Garth Brooks
personally thanked her from the stage for luring him out of semi-retirement to play nine consecutive sold-out shows within a month of the venue opening. She responded by unveiling a "Championship Banner" in the rafters, to commemorate his achievement.

Sprint Center opened on October 10, 2007, inaugurated by an Elton John concert three days later.[8][9]

In April 2020, T-Mobile US became the naming rights partner by completing a merger with Sprint Corporation.[10] On July 9, 2020, Sprint Center was officially renamed to T-Mobile Center.[11] Changes include an entrance specifically for T-Mobile customers, a lounge with tables that can charge smartphones wirelessly, charging stations all over the arena, T-Mobile 5G coverage, and a monument outside saying "Heart KC".[12]

Gallery

  • 2016 Big 12 Wrestling Championship.
    2016 Big 12 Wrestling Championship.
  • The arena and Power & Light District, from the convention center in 2011.
    The arena and Power & Light District, from the convention center in 2011.
  • 2016 Built Ford Tough PBR Kansas City Clash
    2016 Built Ford Tough PBR Kansas City Clash

Events

Since the arena's construction, various city officials of Kansas City have been in discussions with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) about possible expansion or relocation of a professional hockey and/or basketball franchise for the arena; however, neither league has yet approved a team to play in T-Mobile Center (though there were rumors about the Pittsburgh Penguins possibly moving in 2006).[13][14]

The arena hosted the

2018 the Kansas City regional of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament was held here. Additionally, the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball
team frequently plays regular season games at the arena.

The arena held Missouri's first UFC event for UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis on April 15, 2017.[16] On April 15, 2023, the UFC returned to the arena for UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen.[17]

It hosted the former

Arena Football League
(AFL).

The venue was a regular stop for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR)’s Premier Series for several years. Since 2022, it serves as the home venue of the PBR’s Kansas City Outlaws during the PBR Team Series season in the summer and autumn.

References

  1. ^ "Sprint Center Sells Out Kings-Penguins NHL Preseason Contest". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "Sprint Center". Archived from the original on April 9, 2009.
  3. ^ "Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri".
  4. ^ "Projects". walterpmoore.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO – M-E Engineers Inc". me-engineers.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Sprint Center". Walter P Moore. March 4, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "Official site Sprint Center construction cost". February 16, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009.
  8. ^ Elton John made Saturday night alright for a concert Kansas City Star, October 13, 2007.
  9. ^ Elton John to open Sprint Center Kansas City Star, July 26, 2007.
  10. ^ T‑Mobile Completes Merger with Sprint to Create the New T‑Mobile T-Mobile USA, April 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Hardy, Kevin (July 9, 2020). "Following T-Mobile merger, downtown Kansas City's Sprint Center will get a new name". The Kansas City Star.
  12. ^ T-Mobile Center Unboxed: Kansas City's Exciting New Venue | T-Mobile, retrieved April 29, 2022
  13. ^ Keeler, Sean (October 16, 2014). "With the NBA and KC, never say never – though we're getting close". Fox Sports Kansas City. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  14. ^ "KC again left in the cold as NHL commissioner says 'no' to expansion". Kansas City Star. October 7, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  15. ^ Center, Sprint. "2017 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship – Sprint Center". sprintcenter.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  16. ^ McCarter, Nathan (April 15, 2017). "Johnson vs. Reis Results: Winner and Reaction from UFC on Fox 24". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  17. MMAjunkie.com
    . Retrieved April 16, 2023.

External links