Bren Events Center


The Donald Bren Events Center, commonly known as the Bren Events Center or the Bren, is a 6,000-seat indoor arena on the campus of the University of California, Irvine, in Irvine, California, United States.

Construction and history

It was conceived and planned in 1981, with the passage of a student referendum authorizing an assessment of $23 per student per quarter as of winter 1987. It opened January 8, 1987 with UCI Men’s Basketball vs. Utah State. Parkin Architects Limited served as the architects for the building, which was renamed "Donald Bren Events Center" in 1988. The University of California, Irvine renamed the structure in honor of real estate mogul and chairman of the Irvine Company, Donald Bren, upon receipt of a $1.5 million donation.

Amenities

It is a 65,000 assignable square-foot multi-purpose facility servicing the University and all of southern California. It features a arena which hosts UCI Anteater Basketball, volleyball and serves as a general assembly space for special events. Additional conference and meeting spaces are available to support arena events and to host small meetings. In addition, it provides:

Athletics

It serves as the home to UC Irvine Anteaters athletic programs. Men's basketball, women's basketball, and men's volleyball all play their home games at Bren.
The facility was home to the 1990, 1991 and 1992 U.S. Open Badminton Championships.

Other events

It is also used for concerts, trade fairs, conventions, Broadway shows and graduation ceremonies.
Recent examples of usage include hosting Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, when he spoke in 2004, while Jimmy Carter spoke and answered questions about his book on 3 May 2007. Bill Clinton spoke at a campaign rally for local Democratic candidates in 2012.
TNA Wrestling also held its 2009 Bound For Glory Event here.
Blink-182 headlined a sold out show at the Bren in 1999.