Summary
Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly the BI-LO Center; a.k.a.The Well) is a multi-purpose arena in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. The arena serves as the home of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL.
The Well | |
 | |
 Bon Secours Wellness Arena in 2016. | |
  Bon Secours Wellness Arena Location within South Carolina  Bon Secours Wellness Arena Location within the United States | |
| Former names | BI-LO Center (1998–2013) |
|---|---|
| Location | 650 North Academy Street Greenville, South Carolina, USA 29601 |
| Coordinates | 34°51′10″N 82°23′29″W / 34.852789°N 82.391458°W |
| Owner | Greenville Arena District |
| Operator | Greenville Arena District |
| Capacity | Hockey: 13,951 Basketball: 15,000 Concert (Center Stage): 16,000 Concert (End Stage): 14,500 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 7, 1996[1] |
| Opened | September 3, 1998[4] (25 years ago) |
| Construction cost | $63 million ($118 million in 2023 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | Odell Associates AMI Associates |
| Project manager | International Facilities Group, LLC.[3] |
| Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers PC |
| General contractor | Fluor Daniel[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL) (1998–2006) Carolina Rhinos (AF2) (2000–2002) Greenville Groove (NBDL) (2001–2003) South Carolina Force (AIFA) (2009) Greenville Force (SIFL) (2010) Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) (2010–present) Clemson Tigers men's basketball (NCAA) (2015–2016) | |
| Website | |
| http://www.bonsecoursarena.com/ | |
History edit
The Bon Secours Wellness Arena was built in 1998 at a cost of US $63 million, under its former name of BI-LO Center, to replace Greenville's outdated and under-repaired Greenville Memorial Auditorium, which was imploded on September 20, 1997, on a site located across the street from the new arena.[5] The arena naming rights were purchased by Dutch grocer Ahold, then-owner of BI-LO, which had been founded in nearby Mauldin and was still based there at the time. When it was built, it passed Columbia's Carolina Coliseum as the largest arena in the state of South Carolina, a distinction it held until 2002, when Colonial Life Arena was built in Columbia.
On September 18, 2013, the BI-LO Center was officially renamed the Bon Secours Wellness Arena after the Bon Secours Health System purchased the naming rights.
Bon Secours Wellness Arena was also one of two regional hosts during the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Tournament, alongside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.[6] This was the first season the NCAA had two regional brackets in each city, instead of the traditional four cities, one for each regional.
Seating capacity edit
As a concert venue, the Bon Secours Wellness Arena can seat approximately 19,000 spectators, depending on the positioning of the stage. In addition, the arena features 30 luxury suites and 840 club seats.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ "Bi-Lo Center Breaking Ground Today in Downtown Greenville". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. March 7, 1996. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Bi-Lo Center". International Facilities Group. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
- ^ Findlay, Prentiss (September 3, 1998). "On the Town". The Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ "Greenville Memorial Auditorium Is History". The State. Greenville, SC. Associated Press. September 21, 1997. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
- ^ "Women's NCAA Tournament Greenville Regionals TV schedule: Elite Eight scores, results, teams, seeds". CBSSports.com. March 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
External links edit
- Official website