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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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U.S. Cellular Center (Cedar Rapids)
Alliant Energy PowerHouse (formerly Five Seasons Center and later U.S. Cellular Center) is a multi-purpose arena located in the downtown area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was financed by the approval of a voter referendum to allocate special municipal capital improvement bond monies, after several prior bond referendums to build a civic center failed between 1965 and 1977. The initial construction cost was approximately $7 million for the arena and facilities. The city approved an additional $1 million to build an adjacent multi-level parking facility connected to the center by a skywalk. The center is adjoined by a 16-story DoubleTree hotel facility built directly above the arena.

About the venue

Arena exterior

The center hosts local sporting events and concerts, most notably the Iowa State High School Girls Volleyball Tournament and the Iowa High School Team Dual Wrestling Championships. It was opened in 1979 as the Five Seasons Center and hosted the English progressive-rock band Yes as its first official concert event on April 25, 1979. The arena has a basketball capacity of about 6,900 and can seat up to 8,600 for concerts. It served as the primary sports and entertainment venue in Eastern Iowa until the completion of Carver–Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City four years later. Former professional tenants include the Cedar Rapids River Raiders of the United States Basketball League, the Cedar Rapids Sharpshooters of the Global Basketball Association and the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the Continental Basketball Association. Numerous commencement ceremonies are held at the arena.

The venue hosted the initial World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Souled Out event in 1997. It also hosted WCW's Clash of the Champions XXVIII event in 1994 and a WCW Monday Nitro event in 1999. As the Five Seasons Center, it was the site of two early Ultimate Fighting Championship events: UFC 21 in 1999, and UFC 26 the following year. One notable wrestling match in 1989 had Andre the Giant arrested by police after attacking a KCRG-TV photographer filming the match. He was charged with assault and later acquitted, though he was still fined for criminal mischief and damage to KCRG's equipment.

In early June 2008, the U.S. Cellular Center was flooded with water from the Iowa flood of 2008.

The arena closed in July 2011 to undergo renovations as part of a larger project to build a convention complex around the site, which also includes renovations to the new DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Events were diverted to other venues in the area, including the ImOn Ice Arena (also managed by VenuWorks) and Carver-Hawkeye Arena, during that time. The complex was re-opened for a concert by Lady Antebellum on June 1, 2013. It was selected as the host arena for the NCAA Division II National Volleyball tournament December 12–14, 2013.

It was home to the Cedar Rapids Titans/River Kings of the Indoor Football League from 2014 to 2019.

On October 17, 2014, US Cellular Center held an NBA preseason game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The City of Cedar Rapids announced on October 23, 2020, that it had reached a naming rights agreement with Alliant Energy, the region's electricity provider, that took effect July 1 and lasts twelve years.

Naming history

  • Five Seasons Center (January 25, 1979-August 2000)
  • U.S. Cellular Center (August 2000-June 30, 2020)
  • Alliant Energy PowerHouse (July 1, 2020-present)

Noted performers

Sources:

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Andre the Giant vs. the Cedar Rapids Police: 30 years later". The Gazette (Cedar Rapids). October 18, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Hammill, Mark (May 23, 2018). "Cedar Rapids flood recovery 10 years after 2008 disaster". KGAN. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "CR Progress: Cedar Rapids Convention Complex". City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa Official Website. March 2011. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  5. ^ Ogden, J.R. (August 29, 2011). "Pro football coming to Cedar Rapids?". The Gazette. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Timberwolves To Host Preseason Game In Cedar Rapids". WCCO-TV. CBS Television Stations. June 2, 2014. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Cedar Rapids downtown convention center now known as Alliant Energy Power House". KCRG-TV. Gray Television. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Pro-Tennis Exhibition" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. Vol. 111, no. 158. Student Publications, Inc. March 12, 1979. p. 6. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Rodgers, Danielle (October 23, 2020). "CEDAR RAPIDS' DOWNTOWN ARENA GETS NEW NAME". KHAK. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Sources for noted performers at the arena:
Events and tenants
Preceded by Ultimate Fighting Championship venue
UFC 21
UFC 26 		Succeeded by

41°58′48.79″N 91°40′2.79″W / 41.9802194°N 91.6674417°W / 41.9802194; -91.6674417

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