Provident Credit Union Event Center

History

Prior to inception, SJSU's men's basketball team used to play at the San Jose Civic Auditorium and the Spartan Gym (nka Yosh Uchida Hall). Talks for a better basketball arena started when head coach Bill Berry arrived in 1979, and during a time when Spartan Gym becoming increasingly overcrowded with bookings to utilize its buildings for recreation.

Funding for the arena started in 1982 and an official announcement, from SJSU, to build the arena came in March 1984 as a recreation and events center that would serve the basketball and women's volleyball teams, host concerts, have a recreation facility, and have a 50-meter indoor swimming pool. The arena was proposed to have a seating capacity of 10,000 for concerts and 7,500 for basketball games. Construction began in October 1986.

The arena held its grand opening in September 8, 1989 seating "6,000 for concerts and 5,000 for athletic events" that also contained an aerobics room, 10 racquetball courts, "a 4,000-square-foot weight room, health bar, and a larger-than-Olympic-sized pool that can hold almost one million gallons of water". The total construction cost to build the arena was $31 million (approximately $80.26 million by December 2025)

In August 2019, the university reached an $8.1 million, 20-year deal with Provident Credit Union to rename the Event Center Arena to Provident Credit Union Event Center.

Athletic events

Basketball

The very first basketball game held in the arena was an exhibition game between upstart semi-professional basketball team San Jose Jammers and Stroitel (now BC Budivelnyk) of the USSR Premier Basketball League on November 9, 1989 whereas the very first regular season college basketball game took place 14 days later when San Jose State played against South Alabama.

The Golden State Warriors used to host exhibition games against other NBA opponents in 1990 and 1992.

The arena was also home to the Central Coast Section boys and girls basketball playoffs.

Gymnastics

In August 1990, the arena hosted a nationally-televised rematch between the United States and Soviet Union national men's and women's gymnastics teams.

Non-athletic events

Since its opening, the facility has played host to numerous national entertainment acts such as Rage Against the Machine, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia Band, Prince, George Lopez, Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Kelly Clarkson, Conan O'Brien, Korn, and Pearl Jam.

Annually, the Event Center hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition Silicon Valley Regional. The San José State University Career Center also uses the arena to host its fall and spring career fairs, which generally feature hundreds of potential employers for students of the university.

In October 2010, the California Democratic Party hosted a rally that included Bill Clinton, Jerry Brown, and Gavin Newsom as the speakers.

It also hosts the fall and spring convocation ceremonies for both the College of Engineering and the College of Business at San José State University.

References

References

1. "Provident Credit Union Event Center at San José State University | Student Union, Inc. Of SJSU | San Jose State University".
2. "SJSU Opens $130 Million Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center | SJSU Newsroom".
3. Hildebrand, Chuck. (December 3, 1987). "Basketball in the WCAC is beginning to achieve credibility". [[Peninsula Times Tribune]].
4. Hildebrand, Chuck. (December 16, 1986). "Mound of earth, solid team put Berry in a good mood". [[Peninsula Times Tribune]].
5. Reynolds, Tracie Dyan. (August 19, 1989). "SJSU recreation center opens late, over budget". [[Peninsula Times Tribune]].
6. Chapin, Dwight. (October 2, 1990). "Till a loss do us part?". [[San Francisco Examiner]].
7. (November 18, 1984). "San Jose State to raise student fees". [[Peninsula Times Tribune]].
8. Keene, Thomas G.. (March 31, 1984). "The four plans to deliver a South Bay sports arena". [[Peninsula Times Tribune]].
9. "SJSU and Provident Credit Union Announce Partnership Agreement for Event Center {{!}} SJSU Newsroom".
10. Kiefer, David. (November 9, 1989). "Jammers open with style in San Jose".
11. (November 25, 1989). "Building opens with loss". [[Peninsula Times Tribune]].
12. (July 13, 1990). "1990 Warriors Exhibition Season". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
13. Krentzman, Jackie. (October 31, 1992). "Houston lives up to tough-guy image". [[The Press Democrat]].
14. (March 14, 1990). "Around the Bay". [[San Francisco Examiner]].
15. (March 2, 1990). "CCS playoffs". [[San Francisco Examiner]].
16. Giesin, Dan. (August 2, 1990). "U.S.-U.S.S.R. Gymnastics Rematch". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
17. (August 3, 1990). "U.S. gymnasts to meet Soviets in San Jose". [[Oakland Tribune]].
18. "The Concert History of Event Center Arena, SJSU San Jose, California, United States | Concert Archives".
19. Noguchi, Sharon. (October 17, 2010). "Bill Clinton touts Brown, Newsom in speech at San Jose State". [[The Mercury News]].