Gila River Arena

GILA RIVER ARENA BruceSpringsteen,KennyChesney,MotleyCrue,Justin Timberlake,KatyPerry,TaylorSwift,JustinBieber,Marc Anthony,Aerosmith,LennyKravitz,Nickelback,Bon Jovi, Madonna,RedHotChili Peppers,ChristinaAguilera,John Mayer,TimMcGraw,FaithHill,andtheEagleshaveall performedthere.Its rosterof familyshows includes the RadioCityChristmasSpectacular,NickelodeonStoryTime Live!,SesameStreetLive!,theHarlemGlobetrotters,and CirqueduSoleil. TheGilaRiverArenaopened in2003,apublic/private partnershipbetweentheCityofGlendaleandtheowner of thePhoenixCoyotes,real estatemagnate,SteveEllman. Completedat acostof$220million,theArena replaced theolder andsmallerAmericaWestArena (nowthe TalkingStickResortArena),where theCoyoteshadplayed since1996,after the franchisemovedtoArizona from Winnipeg,Canada.While theAWAwasdesignedprimarily forbasketball,and is thehomeof thePhoenixSunsof the NBA,itwasnot agoodvenue forhockey.Infact,itwas just barelylargeenoughtoaccommodatea regulationhockey rink,andseveral seatshadbadlyobstructedviews. Bycontrast,withtwoseparateconcoursesontwo seating levels,GilaRiverArena is fan-friendlyandprovides anopenviewof the ice.Seatingcapacityfor icehockey is17,125 (18,000forbasketball,andupto19,000for concert events).Thereare87luxurysuites intheArena, includingtwotower suitesand12partysuites that can accommodate largegroupsofupto50people.Inaddi-

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