Stockton Arena


Stockton Arena is an indoor arena in Stockton, California. It opened in December 2005 and seats a maximum of 12,000 fans.
It is the home venue of the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League and Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. Former tenants include the Stockton Lightning arenafootball2 team, the Stockton Cougars Professional Arena Soccer League team, the Stockton Wolves independent indoor football team, the California Eagles American Indoor Football professional indoor football team and the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL from 2005 until 2015.
The Stockton Arena is part of a downtown, waterfront entertainment center which includes Banner Island Ballpark, the home of the Stockton Ports minor league baseball team and the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, all part of the Stockton Waterfront Events Center.

History

The Arena is part of a master-planned waterfront design on the western edge of the downtown Central Business District. The 360 Architecture designed venue is situated next to the Stockton Ballpark. A multi-purpose sporting and event center, the arena was envisioned as part of the region's quality of life improvements. Construction delays and inclement weather caused the Stockton Thunder and California Cougars to play on extended road trips during the beginning of their 2005/2006 season. Stockton Arena opened its doors to the public on December 2, 2005 with a Neil Diamond concert. The first sporting event was a Stockton Thunder hockey game on December 10, 2005 in front of a sold out crowd of 10,117, a game where the Thunder beat the Phoenix RoadRunners, 4-0.

Events

The Stockton Arena hosted the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, World Wrestling Entertainment house shows for both SmackDown/ECW and Raw, and the July 26, 2008 MMA event.
On March 15, 2009, the California Cougars won their first ever league championship in the Stockton Arena, as the 2008–2009 PASL-Pro North American Champions.
On December 9, 2009, the arena hosted the "Stockton Showcase" which featured a matchup between the nationally ranked California Golden Bears and the Pacific Tigers men's Basketball teams in front 8,704 fans, the largest crowd ever to see a Pacific Tigers basketball game in Stockton.
On June 19, 2014, the San Jose Sharks announced that the arena would host a split-squad exhibition game featuring the Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks on September 23. The Sharks won 5–3.
On August 29, 2015, the arena hosted ArenaBowl XXVIII, which featured the Jacksonville Sharks and the San Jose SaberCats, with the SabreCats winning in what would be their final game.