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Mechanics Bank Arena

Exterior view of the arena (c.2009)
Mechanics Bank ArenaLocation within CaliforniaShow map of CaliforniaMechanics Bank ArenaLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United States
Former names	Centennial Garden (1998–2005) Rabobank Arena (2005–2019)
Address	1001 Truxtun Avenue
Location	Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Owner	City of Bakersfield
Operator	ASM Global
Capacity	8,751
Construction
Broke ground	June 9, 1997 (1997-06-09)
Opened	October 1, 1998 (1998-10-01)
Construction cost	$38 million ($72.1 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Rossetti Architects
Project manager	National Sports Services
Structural engineer	Culp & Tanner
Services engineer	ACCO Engineered Systems
General contractor	PCL Construction
Tenants
Bakersfield Dragons (SCAHA) (1998-2003) Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (NCAA) (1998–2014) Bakersfield Condors (WCHL/ECHL) (1998–2015) Bakersfield Blitz (AF2) (2002–03) Bakersfield Blitz (AF2) (2004–07) Bakersfield Jam (NBA D-League) (2006–09) Bakersfield Condors (AHL) (2015–present) Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (ACHA) (2018-2022)
Website
Venue Website

Mechanics Bank Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Bakersfield, California. Located downtown at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and N Street, it was built in 1998, and was originally known as Centennial Garden, a name submitted by local resident Brian Landis. Bay Area-based Mechanics Bank has held the naming rights since September 2019, following their merger with Rabobank NA, which had held the naming rights since 2005.

About

The arena is home to the Bakersfield Condors, an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. Mechanics Bank Arena is also the current home to the California Interscholastic Federation High School State Wrestling Championship Tournament held the first weekend in March. As a concert venue, the arena seats 6,400 for half-house shows and up to 10,225 for center stage and end-stage shows. The arena floor measures 17,000 square feet (1,600 m) of total space.

The southern concourse of Mechanics Bank Arena serves as the exhibit home of the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors athletes and people involved with athletics from Bakersfield and Kern County. They include nationally prominent athletes, local coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to athletics. A separate display on the western concourse honors the founders of Bakersfield and Kern County, as well as country music legend Buck Owens and current athletes and dignitaries from Bakersfield and Kern County.

Attached to the arena is the Mechanics Bank Theater and Convention Center, a 17,840-square-foot (1,657 m) exhibit hall and 3,000-seat theater. The complex was known as the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium when it opened in 1962 and was renamed the Bakersfield Convention Center in the 1980s.

In front of the arena is a city parkspace, Centennial Plaza. The Plaza has a large fountain, a stage, a sculpture fountain, art work, and bricks commemorating the City of Bakersfield's Centennial as an incorporated city in 1998. The community was founded in 1869 by Colonel Thomas Baker.

In their first year in the Western Athletic Conference, the Roadrunners men's and women's basketball teams moved into Rabobank Arena now Mechanics Bank Arena full-time but they moved back to campus for the 2014–15 season, though their former home court is still used today for Harlem Globetrotters games hosted at Mechanics Bank Arena. Also in recent years, ASM Global has taken over management of the Arena. The venue has hosted NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournaments, The California Interscholastic Federation State High School Wrestling Championship Tournament, PBR rodeos, monster truck shows, NHL and NBA pre-season games hosting the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, World Wrestling Entertainment televised shows, the ECHL All-Star Game, an annual high school all-star football game played under Arena Football rules, conventions, Disney On Ice, Olympic Figure Skating Shows, and numerous concerts featuring musical acts of various genres, including The Eagles, hometown band Korn, and Brad Paisley.

On September 25, 1998, PCL Construction ceremoniously handed over the keys of the Centennial Garden Arena(original name) to the City Of Bakersfield, hosting the "PCL Construction Party" for construction workers, builders, architects, City Officials, family and friends, as Mayor "Bob" Price set the last tile to the wall in the foyer. Entertainment for the event was provided by the Wayne-Russell Band, featuring Ronnie Wayne and Billy Russell on guitar and vocals, Gary Branson on bass and vocals, and David Wulfekuehler of The Buckaroos on drums. This marked the band as the first entertainment to perform inside the arena. Bill Cosby was the first publicly ticketed entertainment inside, on October 2, 1998.

35°22′19″N 119°00′49″W / 35.37208°N 119.013723°W / 35.37208; -119.013723

See also

• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas

External links

• Arena website
• Condors Hockey
• City of Bakersfield
• CSUB Athletics
• CIF High School Sports
• Ice Sports Center
• McMurtrey Aquatic Center

References

1. ^ Stocksbury-Guier, Cindy (December 28, 1998). "Bakersfield Centennial Garden & Convention Center". Amusement Business. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
2. 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 February 29, 2024.
3. ^ "Centennial Garden Bakersfield Arena". ACCO Engineered Systems. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
4. "Facilities". National Sports Services. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
5. "CT, Chino - Design-Build". Culp & Tanner, Inc. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
6. "History of Bakersfield". City of Bakersfield. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
7. MORGEN, SAM. "Rabobank Arena name changed to 'Mechanics Bank Arena' following merger". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
8. "Rabobank Arena". Bakersfield Condors. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011.
9. "CIF Press Release" (PDF). CIF.
10. "Rabobank Arena Technical Information". Rabobank Arena.
11. "Kern County Sports Hall of Fame".
12. "Rabobank Arena". StadiumJourney.com.
13. "Centennial Plaza". Bakersfield Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2012.

• Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners basketball
• College basketball venues in California
• Music venues in California
• Ice hockey venues in California
• Sports venues in Bakersfield, California
• Wrestling venues in California
• 1998 establishments in California
• Sports venues completed in 1998
• Indoor arenas in California