Broke ground August 28, 2006 Opened 10 April 2008 | Surface Multi-surface Capacity 10,600 Phone +1 314-977-5000 | |
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Construction cost $80.5 million($89.5 million in 2017 dollars) Address 1 S Compton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA | ||
Chaifetz Arena (/ˈʃeɪfɛtz/ SHAY-fetz), located on the campus of Saint Louis University, is a 10,600 seat multi-purpose arena in St. Louis, Missouri, that began construction on August 28, 2006 and opened on April 10, 2008.
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In February 2007, Chicago-based businessman Richard Chaifetz, CEO of ComPsych Corporation and 1975 graduate of SLU, made a $12 million donation to the university, which named the arena in his honor.
As of the 2008-09 season, it is the official home of the Saint Louis University Billikens men's and women's basketball teams, replacing Scottrade Center (1994-2008), St. Louis Arena (1991-94), Kiel Auditorium (1934-1991), and the Bauman-Eberhardt Center (1920-1934), respectively. Additionally, the attached Chaifetz Pavilion includes a two-court basketball and volleyball practice facility that also serves as an 800-seat venue that is the home for the university's volleyball teams. The arena, known as "the Jewel of Midtown," includes a three-story athletic office. Chaifetz Arena has been called by former VCU coach Shaka Smart as the toughest venue to play in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Chaifetz arena timelapse 2014
Events
The first event held at the venue was a Harlem Globetrotters game against the Washington Generals, played on April 11, 2008.
Barry Manilow performed the inaugural concert at Chaifetz Arena on April 25, 2008.
The first student concert was held on April 26, 2008 featuring artists Tyler Hilton, Chingy, The Starting Line, Jo Dee Messina, and Augustana.
Saint Louis University held its first Commencement Ceremony on campus in 60 years at the arena on May 17, 2008. Fox Sports personality and native St. Louisan Joe Buck delivered the Commencement Address.
The first political rally at the Arena was on October 2, 2008, for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. She appeared to supporters after the 2008 Vice Presidential debate held at Washington University in St. Louis.
FIRST Robotics has held its St. Louis FRC Regional at Chaifetz Arena for several years.
American Idols Live! made its Chaifetz Arena debut in 2009, having previously been held at the Fox Theater (2002) and Family Arena (2003-2008). Chaifetz Arena also became the St. Louis stop for Champions on Ice and Cirque du Soleil, also in 2009.
The USA Gymnastics Championships occurred June 7–10, 2012 at the Chaifetz Arena
Phish performed on August 28, 2012 as part of its 2012 Summer Tour.
Set 1: Punch You in the Eye, Runaway Jim, Ocelot, Reba, I Didn't Know, The Curtain, Peaches en Regalia, Mound, Sample in a Jar, The Sloth, Camel Walk, Possum, Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
Set 2: Chalk Dust Torture> Frankie Says> Undermind> Sand> Walk Away, Limb By Limb, Julius, Also Sprach Zarathustra, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: Shine A Light
Muse performed on March 8, 2013 on their 2nd Law tour. This was the band's fifth show in St. Louis.
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING was held here in September,2013.
March 6, 2016 Bruce Springsteen performed to the largest sold-out crowd in the buildings history with 10,247 sold tickets.
The 2016 Mens U.S. Olympic Trials and P&G Gymnastics Championships was held at Chaifetz Arena June 23-26, 2016.