Idaho Center
Encyclopedia
The Idaho Center is a complex of sports and entertainment venues in Nampa
, Idaho
, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Boise
.
Venues include an indoor arena
opened in 1997 with a seating capacity
of 12,279 and 31200 square feet (2,898.6 m²) of floor space and a 10,500-seat outdoor amphitheater opened in 1998 with a 60-by-40-foot stage. Additionally, the Idaho Horse Park is used for horse shows and the Sports Center is utilized for indoor track and field events, including the home meets of the Boise State University
Broncos
track teams. It features a 200-meter indoor track and is scheduled to host the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track Championships.
The Idaho Center arena is best known for rodeo
. It annually hosts the Snake River Stampede
, considered one of the nation's top rodeos, during the third week in July. The Stampede moved indoors to the Idaho Center arena in 1997; it was formerly held in an outdoor stadium (now demolished) near Lakeview Park. Since 1999, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has hosted a Built Ford Tough Series
(originally Bud Light Cup) event at the Idaho Center in what has been a major stop of the tour.
The arena is used for concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and other events. It is the former home of the Idaho Stampede
of the Continental Basketball Association
and the Idaho Stallions of the now defunct Indoor Professional Football League
.
The Idaho Center arena is the former home of the NAIA
Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. Upon its completion, the tournament moved to the Idaho Center in 1998 from its former home on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University
(then Northwest Nazarene College). The tournament left town in 2000 when NNC became a university and left the NAIA to join the NCAA
in Division II.
In March 2004, the Idaho Center arena was the home court for the Boise State
men's basketball team
in the second round matchup in the NIT
against the UWM Panthers. The game was moved to the Idaho Center due to a prior scheduled Metallica
concert at Boise State's Taco Bell Arena
. The game drew more than 10,000, the largest for a basketball game in the arena's history.
The amphitheater hosts an annual Monster Jam
event, and has also played host to music festivals, including The Vans Warped Tour, The Gigantour
, The Lilith Fair
, and The Mayhem Festival
.
Pearl Jam
performed during their Binaural Tour
on November 3, 2000, with Supergrass
as their opening act. The show was filmed and later released as a live album, titled 11/3/00 – Boise, Idaho. Tina Turner
was scheduled to perform during her Twenty Four Seven Tour
on December 9, 2000, but the show was cancelled.
The Rolling Stones
played their first concert in the state of Idaho at the arena on Tuesday, November 14, 2006.
, the historic downtown was neglected for new and bigger stores on the outskirts of town and the North Nampa residential area became a place for lower income residents. The homes became neglected and crime
rose in the area. To help combat this effect, the Nampa City Council created the North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency in 1994. As part of their urban renewal plan, the North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency gave interest-free loans to property owners to repair or replace their homes (improve their property).
NNURA members thought the idea of a convention center
would invigorate the stagnant North Nampa. Property was purchased several miles from the targeted area to be improved and the Idaho Center was born. In spite of the NNURA's continued funding of the Idaho Center, the facility lost money from 1996 to 2004. The NNURA contributed at least $9.6 million to the operation costs of the Idaho Center. In 2004, the North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency expired (after 10 years) and was not renewed by the Nampa City Council.
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
.
Venues include an indoor arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
opened in 1997 with a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 12,279 and 31200 square feet (2,898.6 m²) of floor space and a 10,500-seat outdoor amphitheater opened in 1998 with a 60-by-40-foot stage. Additionally, the Idaho Horse Park is used for horse shows and the Sports Center is utilized for indoor track and field events, including the home meets of the Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
Broncos
Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta...
track teams. It features a 200-meter indoor track and is scheduled to host the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track Championships.
The Idaho Center arena is best known for rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
. It annually hosts the Snake River Stampede
Snake River Stampede Rodeo
The Snake River Stampede Rodeo, located in Nampa, Idaho, is one of the top twelve professional rodeos recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The rodeo is held for one week in late July every year. In 2009, the rodeo is being held from July 14 to July 18...
, considered one of the nation's top rodeos, during the third week in July. The Stampede moved indoors to the Idaho Center arena in 1997; it was formerly held in an outdoor stadium (now demolished) near Lakeview Park. Since 1999, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has hosted a Built Ford Tough Series
Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
(originally Bud Light Cup) event at the Idaho Center in what has been a major stop of the tour.
The arena is used for concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and other events. It is the former home of the Idaho Stampede
Idaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
and the Idaho Stallions of the now defunct Indoor Professional Football League
Indoor Professional Football League
The Indoor Professional Football League was the new incarnation of the Professional Indoor Football League , which started in 1998. Two of its teams left the league and their owner, Kerry Ecklund, founded the Indoor Football League in 1999...
.
The Idaho Center arena is the former home of the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. Upon its completion, the tournament moved to the Idaho Center in 1998 from its former home on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Nampa, Idaho.-History:Eugene Emerson organized a combination grade school and Bible school in 1913 as Idaho Holiness School...
(then Northwest Nazarene College). The tournament left town in 2000 when NNC became a university and left the NAIA to join the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
in Division II.
In March 2004, the Idaho Center arena was the home court for the Boise State
Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta...
men's basketball team
Boise State Broncos men's basketball
The Boise State Broncos men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was...
in the second round matchup in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
against the UWM Panthers. The game was moved to the Idaho Center due to a prior scheduled Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
concert at Boise State's Taco Bell Arena
Taco Bell Arena
The Taco Bell Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena, on the campus of Boise State University, in Boise, Idaho. The arena is located on the east end of campus, between West Campus Lane & Cesar Chavez Circle, immediately northwest of Bronco Stadium....
. The game drew more than 10,000, the largest for a basketball game in the arena's history.
The amphitheater hosts an annual Monster Jam
Monster Jam
Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association and takes place primarily in the United States and around the world...
event, and has also played host to music festivals, including The Vans Warped Tour, The Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
, The Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
, and The Mayhem Festival
Mayhem festival
The Mayhem Festival is a touring metal festival that takes place during the summer. The inaugural iteration took place in 2008; the festival has since become an annual event across the United States and Quebec, Canada. The tour has been sponsored by the Rockstar Energy Company since the time of its...
.
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
performed during their Binaural Tour
Binaural Tour
The Binaural Tour was a concert tour by the American rock band Pearl Jam to support its sixth album, Binaural.-History:Pearl Jam promoted Binaural with tours in Europe and North America. Pearl Jam's 2000 European tour ended in tragedy on June 30, 2000, with an accident at the Roskilde Festival in...
on November 3, 2000, with Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
as their opening act. The show was filmed and later released as a live album, titled 11/3/00 – Boise, Idaho. Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
was scheduled to perform during her Twenty Four Seven Tour
Twenty Four Seven Tour
The Twenty Four Seven Tour is the eighth concert tour by American singer, Tina Turner. The tour initially promoted her final studio album, Twenty Four Seven, but later transformed into a greatest hits tour...
on December 9, 2000, but the show was cancelled.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
played their first concert in the state of Idaho at the arena on Tuesday, November 14, 2006.
North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency
In NampaNampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, the historic downtown was neglected for new and bigger stores on the outskirts of town and the North Nampa residential area became a place for lower income residents. The homes became neglected and crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
rose in the area. To help combat this effect, the Nampa City Council created the North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency in 1994. As part of their urban renewal plan, the North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency gave interest-free loans to property owners to repair or replace their homes (improve their property).
NNURA members thought the idea of a convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
would invigorate the stagnant North Nampa. Property was purchased several miles from the targeted area to be improved and the Idaho Center was born. In spite of the NNURA's continued funding of the Idaho Center, the facility lost money from 1996 to 2004. The NNURA contributed at least $9.6 million to the operation costs of the Idaho Center. In 2004, the North Nampa Urban Renewal Agency expired (after 10 years) and was not renewed by the Nampa City Council.