2011 Event In a bid to attract international sponsorship, England's Newcastle United F.C. rebrands the St. James' Park stadium as the Sports Direct Arena 1998 Event 17th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: at Kemper Arena KC 1997 Event USAir Arena closes, hosting Washington Wizards 1997 Event Washington Capitals final game at USAir Arena, retire Rod Langway's #5 1997 Event 47th NHL All-Star Game: East beat West 11-7 at San Jose Arena 1996 Event Montreal Canadian's 1st game in their new arena 1996 Death Jay Morris Arena, inventor/pediatrician, dies at 86 1995 Event Key Arena opens, Seattle Supersonics beat Los Angeles Lakers 103-89 1994 Event Cleveland Cavaliers 1st game at Gund Arena, lose to Hous Rockets, 100-98 1994 Event Billy Joel performs opening concert at Cleveland's Gund Arena 1994 Event Gund Arena in Cleveland opens 1994 Death Michel R Vassallucci, French/Netherlands publisher (Arena), dies at 32 1992 Event 1st NBA game at America West Arena, Phoenix Suns beat Clippers 111-105 1992 Death "Gorgeous" George, Arena, wrestler, dies at 84 1992 Event America West Arena opens in Phoenix 1992 Event NCAA Basketball Women's Championship at Kemper Arena, KC 1992 Death Roberto D'Aubuisson, El Salvadorian founder (ARENA), dies 1991 Event Oakland A's stadium becomes 1st outdoor arena to ban smoking 1989 Event Orlando Arena opens 1988 Event Arco Arena in Sacramento, California opens, Sac Kings lose to Seattle, 97-75 1988 Event 1st NBA game at Miami Arena, Miami Heat loss to Los Angeles Clippers, 111-91 1988 Event Miami Arena opens 1988 Event New York Knights 1st arena football game beats Cobras 60-52 (10,157 in Los Angeles) 1984 Event 1st NBA game at LA Memorial Sports Arena - Clipper beat Knick, 107-105 1981 Event 1st NBA game at Meadowlands Arena, New Jersey Nets lose to New York Knicks 103-99 1981 Event Meadowlands Arena opens in New Jersey 1980 Event Dallas Mavericks 1st game at Reunion Arena beat San Antonio 103-92 1980 Event Reunion Arena in Dallas opens 1977 Death Jean Hagen, actress (Dead Ringer, Shaggy Dog, Arena), dies at 54 1975 Event Denv Nuggets 1st game at McNichols Sports Arena beat St. Louis Spirits 1975 Event McNichols Sports Arena in Denver opens 1974 Event 1st NBA game at Market Square Arena - Pacers beat Spurs 129-121 1974 Event Market Square Arena in Indianapolis opens 1974 Event Smallest crowd at Cleveland Arena (Cavs vs Golden State-1,641) 1973 Event Capital Centre (USAir Arena) in Washington D.C. opens 1973 Event U.S. Air Arena opens in Landover Maryland, Bullets beat Seattle, 98-96 1972 Event Largest crowd at Cleveland Arena (Cavs vs Lakers-11,178) 1966 Event 1st NBA game at Oakland Coliseum Arena - Warriors beat Bulls 108-101 1966 Event Oakland Coliseum Arena opens 1961 Birthday Michel R Vassallucci, French/Netherlands publisher, Arena 1952 Event Alan Freed presents Moondog Coronation Ball at old Cleveland Arena, 25,000 attend 1st rock and roll concert ever 1951 Birthday Bruce Arena, born in Brooklyn, New York, soccer coach, 1996 Olympics gold 1950 Birthday Amos Gitai, actor, Neo-Fascist Trilogy, Golem, Arena of Murder 1933 Event Antwerp Sports arena opens 1924 Birthday Robert Horton, born in Los Angeles, California, actor, Kings Row, Wagon Train, Arena 1918 Event NHL Montreal Wanderers disband after Westmount arena burns down 1915 Birthday Henry Morgan, born in New York City, comedian/TV panelist, I've Got a Secret, Arena 1909 Birthday Jay Morris Arena, inventor and pediatrician 1905 Event Hippodrome arena opens in New York City
