CURE Insurance Arena

CURE Insurance Arena
	;
Former names	Sovereign Bank Arena (1999–2009); Sun National Bank Center (2009–2017)
Location	81 Hamilton Avenue; Trenton, NJ 08611 USA
Public transit	River Line; at Hamilton Avenue
Owner	Mercer County Improvement Authority
Operator	Oak View Group
Capacity	Ice hockey: 7,605; Basketball: 8,600; Concerts: 8,500
Construction
Broke ground	December 2, 1997
Opened	October 6, 1999
Construction cost	$53 million; ($96.9 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Sink Combs Dethlefs; Vitetta Group
Structural engineer	Geiger Engineers
Services engineer	French & Parrello Associates, P.A.
General contractor	Gilbane Building Company
Tenants
	Trenton Titans/Devils (ECHL) (1999–2013); Trenton Shooting Stars (IBL) (1999–2001); Trenton Lightning (IPFL) (2001) ; Philadelphia Passion (LFL) (2009–2011); Trenton Steel (SIFL) (2011); New Jersey Rascals (PLL) (2012); Trenton Freedom (PIFL) (2014–2015); Jersey Flight (NAL) (2018–2022) ; TCNJ Lions (ACHA) (2021–2022); Trenton Terror (PBLA) (2022–2023); Philadelphia Soul (AFL) (2024) ;

The CURE Insurance Arena is a multipurpose arena in Trenton, New Jersey. It hosts events including shows, sporting events and concerts.

The arena seats 7,605 for hockey and other ice events, 8,600 for basketball and up to 10,500 for concerts, family shows, and other events which makes it the largest arena in Central New Jersey. The arena is located next to, and served by, the Hamilton Avenue station on NJ Transit's River Line and New Jersey Route 129.

It is managed by Oak View Group.

History and events

The arena opened as Sovereign Bank Arena on October 6, 1999, with a World Wrestling Entertainment event. On November 13, 2009, Sun National Bank signed a naming-rights deal for seven years for $2.1 million.^[7] Since the arena opened, it has hosted over 1200 events with over 4 million guests attending and has sold out shows by Bruce Springsteen, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Cher, Elton John, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber among others.^[8] Musical events have dwindled in the 2010s.^[9]

CURE Insurance Arena hosted the last regular season games of the premier 2018 JBA season.

Professional Box Lacrosse

The Trenton Terror of the Professional Box Lacrosse Association is part of the eight-team inaugural season. The Terror held their first game on December 30, 2022, against the New England Chowderheads, in which they lost 15-16 in overtime. ^[10]

Men's basketball

The 2000 and 2001 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournaments were held there, as was the 2003 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.

The arena also hosted a game between Oak Hill Academy and Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School, which featured a matchup between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Women's college basketball

In 2006, the arena hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. In 2009, the arena hosted the Trenton Regional of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament where the University of Connecticut went to the Women's Final Four.

Men's club hockey

In 2021, The College of New Jersey's club ice hockey program announced it would play five home games at the arena during the 2021–22 season.^[11] Later on this increased with the non-varsity team using the arena as a home venue to finish the regular season. As defending conference champions, the Lions hosted the 2022 Colonial Cup Playoffs at the arena and reached the championship game before falling to the top seeded University of Pennsylvania.^[12]

Professional wrestling

On August 10, 2008, the arena hosted Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA) 8th Hard Justice event.^[13]

On July 21, 2023, the arena hosted Ring of Honor's 20th Death Before Dishonor event.^[14]^[15]

References

^ Garbarine, Rachelle (December 14, 1997). "In the Region/New Jersey; 2d Anchor Begun in Trenton's Revitalization Plan". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
^ "Ownership & Management". Sun National Bank Center. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
^ 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.
^ "Stephen P. Emery". Geiger Engineers. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
^ "Awards". French & Parrello Associates. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
^ Jaeger, Lauren (July 6, 1998). "Globe Facility Services To Run Mercer Arena". AllBusiness. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
^ Rinde, Meir (November 18, 2009). "Arena Naming Deal Put at $2.1M". The Times (Trenton). Retrieved February 12, 2013.
^ "General Info". Sun National Bank Center. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
^ Oliver, Bobby (November 11, 2019). "A forgotten N.J. arena just hosted a major rock concert. Let this be a trend!". nj.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
^ "Trenton Terror • PBLA".
^ "2021/22 SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED! | The College of New Jersey Lions". tcnj.pointstreaksites.com. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
^ Battista, Michael (23 February 2022). "COLONIAL CUP RECAP". cschc.acha.hockeytech.com. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
^ "TNA Hard Justice 2008". Retrieved August 15, 2023.
^ Renner, Ethan (June 2, 2023). "ROH reveals date for Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
^ Knight, Cain A. (June 2, 2023). "AEW announces the date and location for ROH Death Before Dishonor 2023". Cageside Seats. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.

^ Scheduled to play three games but folded before games were set to take place

External links

Events and tenants
Preceded by TNA Impact! Zone	Host of Hard Justice 2008	Succeeded by TNA Impact! Zone

40°12′46″N 74°45′27.22″W / 40.21278°N 74.7575611°W / 40.21278; -74.7575611

[1] Garbarine, Rachelle (December 14, 1997). "In the Region/New Jersey; 2d Anchor Begun in Trenton's Revitalization Plan". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2011.

[2] "Ownership & Management". Sun National Bank Center. Retrieved November 22, 2009.

[inflation-US-3] 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.

[4] "Stephen P. Emery". Geiger Engineers. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2011.

[5] "Awards". French & Parrello Associates. Retrieved November 11, 2011.

[6] Jaeger, Lauren (July 6, 1998). "Globe Facility Services To Run Mercer Arena". AllBusiness. Retrieved November 11, 2011.

[8] Rinde, Meir (November 18, 2009). "Arena Naming Deal Put at $2.1M". The Times (Trenton). Retrieved February 12, 2013.

[9] "General Info". Sun National Bank Center. Retrieved November 22, 2009.

[10] Oliver, Bobby (November 11, 2019). "A forgotten N.J. arena just hosted a major rock concert. Let this be a trend!". nj.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.

[11] "Trenton Terror • PBLA".

[12] "2021/22 SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED! | The College of New Jersey Lions". tcnj.pointstreaksites.com. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.

[13] Battista, Michael (23 February 2022). "COLONIAL CUP RECAP". cschc.acha.hockeytech.com. Retrieved 17 March 2022.

[14] "TNA Hard Justice 2008". Retrieved August 15, 2023.

[15] Renner, Ethan (June 2, 2023). "ROH reveals date for Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.

[16] Knight, Cain A. (June 2, 2023). "AEW announces the date and location for ROH Death Before Dishonor 2023". Cageside Seats. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.

[7] Scheduled to play three games but folded before games were set to take place

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