PNC Arena - History

History

The idea of a new basketball arena first emerged in the 1980s under the vision of Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano. In 1989, the NCSU Trustees approved plans to build a 23,000 seat arena. The Centennial Authority was created by the NC Legislature in 1995 as the governing entity of the arena, then financed by state appropriation, local contributions, and University fundraising. The Centennial Authority refocused the project into a multi-use arena, leading to the 1997 relocation agreement of the Hurricanes (then the Hartford Whalers). Construction began that year and was completed in 1999 with an estimated cost of $158 million, which was largely publicly financed by a Hotel and Restaurant tax. The Hurricanes agreed to pay $60 million of the cost, and the state of North Carolina paid $18 million.

Known as the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena or ESA from 1999 to 2002, it was renamed the RBC Center after an extended search for a corporate sponsor. RBC Bank, the US division of the Royal Bank of Canada, acquired 20-year naming rights for a reported $80 million. On June 19, 2011, it was announced that PNC Financial Services bought RBC Bank and acquired the naming rights to the arena pending approval by the regulatory agencies. On December 15, 2011, it was announced that the Centennial Authority, the landlord of the arena, approved a name change for the facility to PNC Arena. The name change officially took place on March 15, 2012.

Raleigh experienced its first NHL game on October 29, 1999, when the Hurricanes hosted the New Jersey Devils on opening night of the building. On June 19, 2006, the Hurricanes were on home ice for a decisive game seven of the Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3–1 to bring the franchise its first Stanley Cup and North Carolina its first major professional sports championship.

On a normal hockey day the PNC arena has more than 400 people on duty for security and concessions.

In 2008, the arena renovated its sound system. Clair Brothers Systems installed a combination of JBL line arrays to provide improved audio coverage for all events.

In June 2009, video crews installed a new Daktronics HD scoreboard. It replaced the ten year-old scoreboard that had been in the arena since it opened. The scoreboard is in full LED and is four-sided, whereas the old scoreboard was eight-sided and featured alternating static dot-matrix displays (very much outdated for today's standards) and full color video displays. In addition, it features an octagonal top section with full video capability, along with two rings similar to the ribbon board encircling the bowl of the arena.

In addition to hockey and college basketball, PNC Arena hosts a wide array of concerts, family shows, and other events each year. Past performers include Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, George Strait, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, and many other artists. Family shows have included Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Sesame Street Live, Disney On Ice, and the Harlem Globetrotters. It has hosted many notable World Wrestling Entertainment events including SummerSlam 2000, No Mercy 2006 and Over The Limit in 2012.

It hosted the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) men's basketball tournament from 1999–2008, and was a site for Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2004 and 2008 men's NCAA basketball tournaments.

On April 8, 2010, the Hurricanes and the NHL announced that the arena would host the 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game on January 30, 2011.