Honda Center

The Honda Center (formerly known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim) is an indoor arena located in Anaheim, California. The arena is home to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.

Honda Center
The Pond
Honda Center in 2021
Honda Center is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Honda Center
Honda Center
Location in L.A. metro area
Honda Center is located in California
Honda Center
Honda Center
Location in California
Honda Center is located in the United States
Honda Center
Honda Center
Location in the United States
Former namesAnaheim Arena (planning/construction)
Pond of Anaheim (1993)
Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim (1993–2006)
Address2695 East Katella Avenue
LocationAnaheim, California
Coordinates33°48′28″N 117°52′36″W
Public transitAmtrak Metrolink (California) Anaheim
OwnerCity of Anaheim
OperatorAnaheim Arena Management
CapacityHockey: 17,174;
Basketball: 18,336;
Concerts (center stage) 18,900; Concerts (end stage) 18,325
Theatre at the Honda Center: 8,400
Field size650,000 square feet (60,000 m2)
Construction
Broke groundNovember 8, 1990
OpenedJune 17, 1993
Construction costUS$123 million
($276 million in 2022 dollars[1])
ArchitectHOK Sport (now Populous)
Project managerTurner Construction
Structural engineerThornton Tomasetti[2]
Services engineerSyska Hennessy Group, Inc.[3]
General contractorHuber, Hunt & Nichols[4]
Tenants
Anaheim Ducks (NHL) (1993–present)
Anaheim Bullfrogs (RHI/MLRH) (1994–1999)
Anaheim Splash (CISL) (1994–1997)
Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) (1994–1999)
Anaheim Piranhas (AFL) (1996–1997)
Anaheim Storm (NLL) (2004–2005)
UCLA Bruins (NCAA) (2011–2012)
Los Angeles Kiss (AFL) (2014–2016)

Originally named the Anaheim Arena during construction, it was completed in 1993 at a cost of US$123 million. Arrowhead Water paid $15 million for the naming rights over 10 years in October 1993.[5] In the short period of time after the Mighty Ducks franchise was awarded and before the naming rights deal with Arrowhead, Disney referred to the Arena as the Pond of Anaheim.[6] In October 2006, Honda paid $60 million for the naming rights over 15 years,[7] and renewed the deal for another decade in 2020.[8]

History
A panorama of Honda Center's exterior
Panorama of Honda Center's interior before a 2007 playoff hockey game
Honda Center in its basketball configuration before an NCAA basketball game
The New Scoreboard at Honda Center as seen from Section 438 during the 2016 Stanley Cup Play-offs on April 27, 2016

The idea for a large indoor arena in Anaheim emerged from entertainment attorney Neil Papiano, who in 1987 randomly selected two of the city's councilmen from the telephone directory to sell them his idea. They approved of the concept, and one year later following location surveys, the placement was chosen at a seven-acre parcel at Douglass Road and Katella Avenue, that at the time was owned by the German social group Phoenix Club. Papiano also managed to get financial backing from two New York-based firms, Ogden Corporation and Nederlander Organization.[9] Even if there was a dispute to build an arena in Orange County with a Santa Ana project led by Spectacor, and there were discussions of feasibility of the arena given the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League were at the time unwilling to expand to the area,[10] the city of Anaheim pushed forward to build the Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.-designed arena,[11] which broke ground in November 1990.[9] A tenant was finally found in 1992, as The Walt Disney Corporation had just been awarded an NHL franchise for Anaheim, entering negotiations to lease the arena.[12] Once the deal was broken, the arena's final cost ended at $121 million, as $18 million were added to finance hockey franchise fees and facility improvement.[9]

The arena opened on June 19, 1993, with a Barry Manilow concert as its first event.[13] The then-Arrowhead Pond's first NHL game was also the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season opener on October 8, 1993, against the Detroit Red Wings, preceded by a 20-minute pregame show at the cost of $450,000. The Ducks lost 7–2.[14] Since then, the arena has been host to a number of events, such as the 2003 and 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.[13] On June 6, 2007, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators, 6–2, in game five of the Final at Honda Center to clinch the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.[15]

Honda Center has hosted several UFC events, starting with UFC 59 in 2006.[16] It hosted the 2005 IBF World Championships for badminton in 2005.[17]

From 1994 to 1999, it served as a second home for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. It was the home arena for the Anaheim Bullfrogs of Roller Hockey International from 1994 to 1999 and for the Anaheim Piranhas of the Arena Football League from 1996 to 1997.[18]

This arena has also hosted a PBR Bud Light Cup (later Built Ford Tough Series) event annually since 1998.[19] Since 1994, the arena has hosted the annual Wooden Legacy basketball tournament.[20]

In 2011, the arena began hosting the Big West Conference Men's and Women's Basketball tournaments.[21] The arena has also hosted the NCAA men's basketball tournament seven times, as the West Regional site – 1998, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2019. It even hosted the Frozen Four, the semifinals and final of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship, in 1999, underscoring the popularity of hockey in the region.[13]

On December 6, 2000, music legend Tina Turner played her last concert at the arena for the record breaking Twenty Four Seven Tour, but after popular demand, Turner returned to the arena before a sellout crowd on October 14, 2008, for her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour.

The Honda Center lies northeast across California State Route 57 from Angel Stadium (the home stadium of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels) and roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) from Disneyland Park. It is also across the street from Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center with service by Amtrak (Pacific Surfliner), Metrolink (Orange County Line), Anaheim Resort Transit, Orange County Transportation Authority and private transportation companies.

The arena seats up to 17,174 for its primary tenant, the Ducks. It takes only five hours to convert Honda Center from a sporting arena to an 8,400-seat amphitheater. There are 84 luxury suites in the building, which has hosted 17.5 million people, as of 2003. In 2005, the arena became the first in the U.S. to have two full levels of 360° ribbon displays installed. Daktronics of Brookings, South Dakota, designed, manufactured and installed the 1,800 feet (550 m) of full-color LED technology. Outside the venue, the marquee was upgraded with two large video displays measuring 8 feet (2.4 m) high by 21 feet (6.4 m), and a new marquee was built with more LED video displays.[22]

Broadcom chairman Henry Samueli owns the company that operates the arena, Anaheim Arena Management, LLC, and the arena's primary tenant, the Ducks, giving him great flexibility in scheduling events and recruiting new tenants. AAM was founded in 2003 to take over operations of the arena from the bankrupt Ogden Corp.,[23] which had already sold the arena's concession deal to Aramark in 2000 - [24] who remained providing foods and drinks until 2013, when concessions became an in-house operation.[25]

During the 2014–2015 NHL Season, it was announced that Honda Center would get a new scoreboard that will replace the one that was in place since its opening in 1993. The new scoreboard made its debut in a Ducks pre-season game against the Los Angeles Kings.[26]

In March 2020, the arena would lose all its scheduled events because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] For the rest of the year, Honda Center would instead host charity events, such as blood drives, food bank distributions, and a collective wedding, along with serving as a drive-through voting location for the 2020 United States presidential election.[28] The Ducks would only play again in the arena once the following NHL season started in January 2021, with a reduced audience of 2,000 being allowed to attend the final five games of the season, starting with an April 17 matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.[29]

Notable events
Interior of Honda Center in 2021

Ice Hockey

MMA & Pro Wrestling

Concerts

Honda Center has the second highest gross ticket sales from special events on the West Coast, following only Crypto.com Arena.[33] These events have included the following over the years:

2028 Summer Olympics

The arena will host indoor volleyball during the 2028 Summer Olympics.[36]

Capacity

Largest Crowds
HockeyBasketball
#DateOpponentScoreAttendance#DateOpponentScoreAttendance
 1 Mar. 20, 2013Blackhawks at Ducks4–2, ANA17,610 (102.54%) 1 Mar. 12, 1998Lakers at Clippers108–85, LAL18,521 (101.76%)
 2 Feb. 26, 2012Blackhawks at Ducks3–1, ANA17,601 (102.49%) 2 Feb. 4, 1997Lakers at Clippers108–86, LAC18,462 (101.44%)
 3 May 12, 2009Red Wings at Ducks6-3, DET17,601 (102.49%) 3 Feb. 25, 1999Lakers at Clippers115–100, LAL18,456 (101.41%)
 4 Jan. 2, 2009Flyers at Ducks5–4, PHI (SO)17,597 (102.46%) 4 Dec. 2, 1995Bulls at Clippers104–98, CHI18,321 (100.66%)
 5 Apr. 8, 2011Kings at Ducks2–1, ANA17,587 (102.40%) 5 Apr. 12, 1997Nuggets at Clippers116–94, LAC18,211 (100.06%)

See also

References
  1. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. "Sports Entertainment Brochure" (PDF). Thornton Tomasetti. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  3. "Syska Hennessy Group – Honda Center". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  4. "Honda Center". Hockey.ballparks.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  5. "ovguide.com". Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  6. In the 1993–94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim media guide, Disney and the Ducks organization referred to the arena as the "Pond of Anaheim." This was prior to the naming rights deal with Arrowhead Water. ASIN: B001EBD3BM
  7. Shaikin, Bill; Johnson, Greg (July 20, 2006). "Pond to Get a New Name". Los Angeles Times.
  8. McCrea, Heather (February 25, 2020). "Honda Center name locked in for 10 more years under deal extension". Orange County Register.
  9. Lait, Matt (June 13, 1993). "Birth of Anaheim Arena Defies Naysayers' Logic". Los Angeles Times.
  10. Johnston, Lonn (May 21, 1989). "Santa Ana, Anaheim's Big 'If' : Without Pro Team, Arena Could Be White Elephant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  11. "Anaheim Clears Legal Obstacles for Sports Arena". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 1990. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  12. "Disney gets h-o-c-k-e-y 20 years ago". December 10, 2012.
  13. "About Us". Honda Center. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  14. Horn, John (October 10, 1993). "Sports | The Nhl – Disney Magic Ends When Ducks Take Ice". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  15. "2007 NHL Stanley Cup Stanley Cup Final: ANA vs. OTT". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  16. "UFC 59 | UFC". www.ufc.com. September 14, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  17. "2005 IBF World Championships – Men's Doubles". memim.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  18. Penner, Mike (November 5, 1995). "Football at The Pond to Have Some Bite". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  19. "Professional Bull Riders". www.pbr.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  20. "Wooden Classic, Anaheim Classic merge". Orange County Register. June 4, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  21. "Big West tournament 2019 | Honda Center". www.hondacenter.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  22. "Project Gallery :: Daktronics". www.daktronics.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  23. Arrowhead Pond Operations Shift, Los Angeles Times
  24. Ogden Sells Its Concessions, Management Units to Rival , Los Angeles Times
  25. Honda Center Takes Food Concession In-House, Orange County Business Journal
  26. "Honda Center and Ducks to Debut New State of the Art Scoreboard on September 25 | NHL.com".
  27. "Postponed Events". Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  28. "2020-21 Anaheim Ducks Media Guide by Anaheim Ducks - Issuu". issuu.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  29. Honda Center Reopens To Fans In Time For Last 5 Games Of The Ducks Season, CBS Los Angeles
  30. Haggerty, Kevin (November 14, 2012). "UFC 157 set for Honda Center in Anaheim". MMAmania.com. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  31. Danny Segura (February 24, 2017). "UFC 214 in Anaheim changed to July 29". mmafighting.com. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  32. Powell, John (April 2, 2000). "WrestleMania 2000 a flop". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  33. Casacchia, Chris (April 4, 2011). "Royal Reach: NBA Team Would Boost Honda Center Business, Bring Challenges". Orange County Business Journal. 34 (14): 66.
  34. "'SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR III' to be Held in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and LA!". S.M.Entertainment Official Facebook. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-04
  35. "Phil Wickham - Behold Christmas Tour - Anaheim, CA - December 10, 2022". Transparent Productions. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  36. "Los Angeles Candidate City" (PDF). LA24. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
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