Mechanics Bank Arena

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.[6] Bay Area based Mechanics Bank has held the naming rights since September of 2019, following their merger with Rabobank NA. [7]

Mechanics Bank Arena
Exterior view of the arena (c.2009)
Former namesCentennial Garden (1998–2005)
Rabobank Arena (2005–19)
Address1001 Truxtun Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93301-4714
OwnerCity of Bakersfield
OperatorASM Global
Capacity8,751
Construction
Broke groundJune 9, 1997 (1997-06-09)[1]
OpenedOctober 1, 1998 (1998-10-01)[1]
Construction cost$38 million
($60.5 million in 2019 dollars[2])
ArchitectRossetti Architects[3]
Project managerNational Sports Services[4]
Structural engineerCulp & Tanner[5]
Services engineerACCO Engineered Systems[3]
General contractorPCL Construction[3]
Tenants
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)
Website
Venue Website

About

The arena is home to the Bakersfield Condors, an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League[8] and occasional California State University, Bakersfield Roadrunners Men's NCAA Division I basketball games.[9] 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.[10] 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 m2) of total space.[11]

The southern concourse of Mechanics Bank Arena serves as the exhibit home of the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame.[12] The Bob Elias Kern County Sports 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.[13]

Attached to the arena is the Mechanics Bank Theater and Convention Center, a 17,840-square-foot (1,657 m2) exhibit hall and 3,000-seat theater. The complex was originally known as the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium (opened in 1962) and was later 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 that drains into the concrete of the plaza, a stage, a sculpture fountain, art work, and bricks commemorating the City of Bakersfield's Centennial as an incorporated city in 1998.[14]

In their first year in the Western Athletic Conference, the Roadrunners moved into Rabobank Arena full-time but they moved back to campus for the 2014-15 season. Also in recent years, ASM Global has taken over management of the Arena.

The arena was originally named Centennial Garden in 1998 by local resident Brian Landis.

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See also

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. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  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.
  7. smorgen@bakersfield.com, SAM MORGEN. "Rabobank Arena name changed to 'Mechanics Bank Arena' following merger". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  8. condors.com/tickets/rabobank-arena/ "Rabobank Arena" Check |url= value (help). Bakersfield Condors.
  9. "CSUB Facilities". CSUB Athletics.
  10. "CIF Press Release" (PDF). CIF.
  11. "Rabobank Arena Technical Information". Rabobank Arena.
  12. "Kern County Sports Hall of Fame".
  13. "Rabobank Arena". StadiumJourney.com.
  14. "Centennial Plaza". Bakersfield Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2012-03-07.


Events and tenants
Preceded by
Cox Convention Center
(as the Oklahoma City Barons)		 Home of the
Bakersfield Condors
2016–present		 Succeeded by
current
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