Pan American Center - Other Events

Other Events

In addition to its extensive history as a collegiate basketball venue, the Pan American Center has been a prolific host to a wide variety of concerts and special events in its four decades of service.

Former Special Events director Barbara Hubbard once remarked that "it would be easier to compile a list of major recording acts that had not played the Pan Am than it would be to name all those that had."

For many years the building was a natural stop for many concert tours, as it was the largest venue along Interstate 10 between Houston and Phoenix.

However, the construction of newer comparably sized venues in El Paso and Tucson, combined with New Mexico's gross receipts tax on concerts and special events, has led to a significant decline in the number of events scheduled at the arena.

The 2006-07 renovation and a new state law exempting the Pan Am from the gross receipts tax were both approved in part to help the arena once again become more competitive in booking major acts.

Beyond its prolific concert resume, the Pan Am has seen a wide variety of other events, from bull riding events to professional wrestling and boxing matches.

Among the more notable events held in the arena are the 1996 Miss Teen USA pageant, presidential speeches (most recently a campaign stop by George W. Bush in 2004), and the annual Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference.

The arena also hosts the university's annual fall and spring commencement ceremonies as well as those of several area high schools.

The arena has also occasionally hosted the New Mexico State High School Basketball Tournament when the event's usual venue in Albuquerque was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.