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Simmons Bank Arena
Indoor arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simmons Bank Arena (previously Verizon Arena and Alltel Arena) is an 18,000-seat multi-purpose arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, directly across the Arkansas River from downtown Little Rock. Opened in October 1999, it is the main entertainment venue serving Central Arkansas.
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![]() As seen from across the Arkansas River, 2020 | |
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Former names | Alltel Arena (1999–2009) Verizon Arena (2009–2019) |
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Location |
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Public transit |
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Owner | Pulaski County Multi-Purpose Civic Center Facilities Board |
Operator | Pulaski County Multi-Purpose Civic Center Facilities Board |
Capacity | Basketball: 18,000 Hockey: 17,000 Arena Football:16,000 |
Surface | Multi-surface |
Construction | |
Broke ground | August 22, 1997[1] |
Opened | October 2, 1999[2] |
Construction cost | $80 million ($146 million in 2023 dollars[3]) |
Architect | Civic Center Design Team (CCDT): Burt Taggart & Associates, Architects/Engineers, The Wilcox Group, Garver & Garver Engineering and Rosser International of Atlanta |
Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers PC |
General contractor | Turner/Vratsinas[4] |
Tenants | |
Arkansas–Little Rock Trojans (NCAA) (1999–2005) Arkansas RiverBlades (ECHL) (1999–2003) Arkansas Twisters (AF2) (2000–2009) Arkansas RimRockers (ABA/NBA D-League) (2004–2007) | |
Website | |
simmonsbankarena.com |
The Little Rock Trojans, representing the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in NCAA Division I sports, played home basketball games at the arena from the time the arena opened until the team moved in 2005 to a new arena, the Jack Stephens Center, on the school's campus in Little Rock. The Arkansas RiverBlades, a defunct ice hockey team of the ECHL; the Arkansas RimRockers, a defunct minor league basketball team of the NBA Development League; and the Arkansas Twisters, a defunct af2 team, also played at the arena. The arena is also used for concerts, rodeos, auto racing, professional wrestling, and trade shows and conventions.