The Liacouras Center is a 10,200-seat multi-purpose venue which opened in 1997. Its main purpose is hosting Temple Owls men's basketball home games, and some women's basketball games. The arena is located on North Broad Street, and is part of a $107 million, four-building complex along North Broad Street on the Temple University campus in North Philadelphia. As of the end of the 2016-17 season, the Owls have amassed a 206-69 record at the Liacouras Center. The Liacouras Center is the largest indoor, public assembly venue in Philadelphia, north of City Hall.
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History
During the 1980s, Hall of Fame Temple basketball coach John Chaney hoped to raise the profile of the men's basketball program through aggressively scheduling top-tier, out of conference opponents. Some programs, however, scoffed at the idea of playing at Temple's existing arena: the 3,900-seat McGonigle Hall. Temple's President at the time, Peter J. Liacouras, supported the idea of a larger basketball facility in hopes of building Temple's national presence. Temple considered several locations for the arena. The Liacouras Center's site was purchased in 1988 for $7.3 million. The state of Pennsylvania awarded Temple $31.1 million in October 1992, after which there was some back-and-forth bickering between Chaney and then-City Council president John Street.
The project was approved in 1995, with a January 25, 1996 groundbreaking. Two nationally recognized architectural firms designed the Liacouras Center: Vitetta Group of Philadelphia, and Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates of Atlanta. The 340,000 sq ft (32,000 m2) venue opened in the 1997-98 season. The first game played was a 76-61 Temple win over #18 Fresno State.
The venue was originally named, "The Apollo of Temple". The named changed to the Liacouras Center just prior to Liacouras' retirement on February 13, 2000. The Liacouras Center is Philadelphia's largest indoor venue north of City Hall. The venue is only one part of a four-building complex on the site. In addition to the large arena configuration, The Esther Boyer Theater at the Liacouras Center is a small theater setup of 1,000 to 5,000 seats for more intimate presentations. The complex also includes the Independence Blue Cross Recreation Center (IBC), which includes a gym, basketball court, racquetball courts, and more. The IBC opened in the spring semester of 1998. The last building is a 1,200-space parking garage.
Besides hosting Temple basketball games, the Liacouras Center is a full entertainment arena featuring concerts, family shows, Philadelphia KiXX games, Philly Roller Derby bouts, a full range of concerts, dramatic presentations, and family shows. Additionally, several high school graduations, as well as university graduations and convocation ceremonies, are held there. The Liacouras Center is managed by Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor.
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Past events
Music
- 50 Cent
- Bassnectar (April 20, 2012)
- Clay Aiken/Kelly Clarkson
- Goo Goo Dolls
- Green Day
- Bob Dylan, with Phil Lesh and Friends
- Fat Joe
- Fetty Wap
- Bow Wow and Omarion
- Counting Crows
- Ludacris (October 2014)
- Theresa Caputo (October 2014)
- Sam Smith (January 13, 2015)
- Alicia Keys
- Patti LaBelle
- Maroon 5
- John Mayer
- Kid Cudi
- Method Man & Redman
- Natalie Merchant
- Muse
- My Chemical Romance
- LeAnn Rimes
- Bastille (October 2014)
- Super Jam 2010, featuring Trey Songz and Ludacris
- T.I.
- Nelly
- R.E.M.
- Carrie Underwood with Little Big Town
- Luther Vandross
- Kanye West
- Wale
- Wiz Khalifa
- Big Sean
Entertainment
- Jamie Foxx
- Fat Albert (film; world premiere)
- Wheel of Fortune
- Steve Harvey
- Katt Williams
Politics/Government
- Barack Obama (November 2, 2014)
- Bernie Sanders (April 6, 2016)
Sports
- Bernard Hopkins vs. Enrique Ornelas (December 2009)
- NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament (2004; Opening Round)
- TNA Wrestling: Lockdown (2009)
- TNA Wrestling: Bound for Glory (2011)
- The Harlem Globetrotters
- U.S. Gymnastics Championships (2001)
- USA Gymnastics American Cup
- Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing
- David Reid Boxing
- Philadelphia 76ers Exhibition Game
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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