EagleBank Arena
Multi-purpose complex From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
EagleBank Arena (originally the Patriot Center) is a 10,000-seat arena in the eastern United States, on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb southwest of Washington, D.C.
 West entrance in December 2011 | |
 | |
  Fairfax Location in the United States  Fairfax Location in Virginia | |
| Full name | EagleBank Arena at George Mason University |
|---|---|
| Former names | Patriot Center (1985–2015) |
| Address | 4500 Patriot Circle |
| Location | George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38.827°N 77.310°W |
| Owner | George Mason University |
| Operator | Monumental Sports & Entertainment |
| Capacity | Basketball: 10,000 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1982 |
| Opened | October 4, 1985[1] |
| Construction cost | $16 million[2] ($45.3 million in 2023[3]) |
| Architect | HOK Sport Mosley Architects |
| Tenants | |
| George Mason Patriots (A10) (1985–present) Washington Commandos (AFL) (1990) | |
| Website | |
| eaglebankarena | |
Opened 39 years ago in 1985, it is the home of Patriot men's & women's basketball, and is a venue for concerts and family shows, with 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) of space.[4] EagleBank Arena has attracted 9.6 million people to over 2,958 events to GMU, which has over 30,000 students.
In 2010, the EagleBank Arena was ranked seventh nationwide and twelfth 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.[5]
In July 2015, it was renamed the EagleBank Arena.[6][7] The arena is the owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
Financing for the construction of the Patriot Center was part of GMU's revenue bond package approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 1982.[8][9] It replaced a 3,000-seat gymnasium.[10]
The first use of the Patriot Center was GMU's graduation ceremonies in May 1985.[11] The official opening of the arena was five months later on October 4, when the Washington Bullets hosted the New York Knicks in an NBA pre-season game, which was the professional debut of future hall of fame center Patrick Ewing, the first overall selection of the 1985 NBA draft out of nearby Georgetown University.[12]
The NCAA men's volleyball tournament was held at the Patriot Center in May 1990.[13] It hosted its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) men's basketball tournament in 1986 and its first women's tournament in 2005. The Patriots have amassed an overall record of 220–92 (.705) at the Patriot Center and are also 85–10 (.895) in the Patriot Center against CAA opponents. During the 2010–11 season, GMU amassed a perfect 13–0 home record, which was the second time that occurred in three seasons.
The arena underwent a $10 million renovation, completed in 2009, that added new concession stands, hospitality area, locker rooms and bathrooms, and an improved main concourse.
Management history
From its opening, the Patriot Center was managed by Abe Pollin's Washington Sports, later renamed to Washington Sports & Entertainment.[12] In May 1999, Pollin sold 40% of Washington Sports to a partnership led by Ted Leonsis as part of a $200 million deal that also saw Leonsis purchase the Washington Capitals hockey team.[14] Leonsis' group increased their ownership of Washington Sports to 44% when they bought out minority owner Arnold Heft in January 2000.[15]
Following Pollin's death in 2009, Leonsis purchased the rest of WSE from Pollin's heirs in 2010, and consolidated Washington Sports & Entertainment with his own Lincoln Holdings company to form Monumental Sports & Entertainment.[16][17] Management of the Patriot Center passed to this successor company.
On February 4, 2012, GMU men's basketball debuted a new center court scoreboard and set an attendance record against Old Dominion University on homecoming,[18] which then was reached again against James Madison University; both games were won by double digits.
The Patriot Center is the graduation venue for many students of nearby Northern Virginia high schools in addition to hosting Commencement for [19]Northern Virginia Community College.
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.[20]
The arena also hosted a couple of games for the 2018 JBA season, despite not having a team representing the state of Virginia.
Due to renovations at Capital One Arena the Washington Mystics played Game 3 of the 2018 WNBA Finals at EagleBank Arena. The Seattle Storm won and it was the final game of the 2018 WNBA season.
- Men's Basketball Game Attendance – 9,900 on February 4, 2012, vs Old Dominion University
- Concert Attendance – Phish – 10,356
- Grossing Concert – RBD Soy Rebelde - in 2023, $1.9 million
- Grossing Family Show – Disney On Ice in 2022, $2.46 million
- Most Points Scored in Arena (Basketball) – 53 by Bobby Aguirre of Macalester College in 1995
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