The EagleBank Arena is a 10,000-seat arena in the easternUnited States, on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb southwest of Washington, D.C. Opened in 1985, it is the home of Patriotmen's & women'sbasketball, and is a venue for concerts and family shows, with of space. EagleBank Arena has attracted 9.6 million people to over 2,958 events to GMU, which has over 30,000 students. In 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 7 nationwide and No. 12 worldwide according to ticket sales for venues with capacities between 10,001 and 15,000 by trade publicationVenues Today. Also in 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 8 nationwide and No. 18 worldwide according to top grossing venues with a capacity between 10,001 and 15,000 by Billboard magazine. On May 7, 2015, the university announced that the name would be changed on July 1 to "EagleBank Arena at George Mason University", following a partnership deal with EagleBank. The Patriot Center is the first university venue to be managed by a private company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, who also owns and manages Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
History
Financing for the construction of the Patriot Center was part of GMU's revenue bond package approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 1982. It replaced a 3,000-seat gymnasium. The first use of the Patriot Center was GMU's graduation ceremonies in May 1985. The official opening of the arena was on October 4, 1985, when the New York Knicks played the Washington Bullets in a pre-season game, debuting the first game of future Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Patrick Ewing. In 1990, the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships were held at the Patriot Center. In 1986, the Patriot Center hosted the first men's CAA Tournament and hosted its first women's CAA Tournament in 2005. The Patriots have amassed an overall record of 220–92 at the Patriot Center. The Patriots are also 85–10 in the Patriot Center against Colonial Athletic Association opponents. During the 2010–2011 men's NCAA basketball season, the Patriots amassed a perfect 13–0 home record, which was the second time that occurred in three seasons. The arena underwent a $10 million renovation, completed in 2009, that added new concession stands, hospitality area, locker rooms and bathrooms, and an improved main concourse.
Management history
From its opening, the Patriot Center was managed by Abe Pollin's Washington Sports, later renamed to Washington Sports & Entertainment. In May 1999, Pollin sold 40% of Washington Sports to a partnership led by Ted Leonsis as part of a $200 million deal that also saw Leonsis purchase the Washington Capitals hockey team. Leonsis' group increased their ownership of Washington Sports to 44% when they bought out minority owner Arnold Heft in January 2000. Following Pollin's death in 2009, Leonsis purchased the rest of WSE from Pollin's heirs in 2010, and consolidated Washington Sports & Entertainment with his own Lincoln Holdings company to form Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Management of the Patriot Center passed to this successor company.
Renovations and recent events
On February 4, 2012, GMU men's basketball debuted a new center court scoreboard and set an attendance record against Old Dominion University on homecoming, which then was reached again against James Madison University; both games were won by double digits. The Patriot Center also graduates many students of nearby Northern Virginiahigh schools. The Patriot Center hosted the sold-out on January 11, 2010. That was the first time that the UFC had staged an event in the state of Virginia. The arena also hosted a couple of games for the 2018 JBA season, despite not having a team representing the state of Virginia.
Records
Men's Basketball Game Attendance – 9,900 on February 4, 2012 vs Old Dominion University
