McKenzie Arena Information
When McKenzie Arena opened in 1982, local officials envisioned it as a multi-purpose facility that could host sporting events, concerts, and more.
It was one of Tennessee’s largest and best indoor arenas at the time. During the past four decades, though, multiple other indoor arenas have been built in the state and nearby areas, which may limit McKenzie Arena’s appeal to big-name entertainment acts:
» The University of Tennessee built Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville in 1987 with a capacity of 21,678. It is the home of Tennessee Volunteers men’s and women’s basketball. Knoxville is 112 miles from Chattanooga.
» The Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) built Bridgestone Arena in 1996 with a capacity of 20,000. Nashville is 133 miles from Chattanooga.
» The Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA) built FedEx Forum in 2004 with a capacity of 19,000. Memphis rarely competes with Chattanooga for events, as the two cities are 337 miles apart.
» The Atlanta Hawks of the NBA play at State Farm Arena, which was built in 1999 and renovated in 2017. It seats 16,888. Atlanta is 118 miles from Chattanooga.
McKenzie Arena may feel a bit dated compared to some of those newer arenas. However, the arena renovation project and the construction of the Wolford Family Athletic Center give the entire arena a modern feel.
Concerts
As a concert venue, McKenzie Arena offers a capacity of 11,557 with the stage in the middle of the arena, 9,107 with the stage at the end of the arena floor, and 7,463 with a side stage on the arena floor.
McKenzie Arena has drawn many of the biggest names in entertainment throughout its 40-plus-year history, including:
» Taylor Swift
» Vince Gill
» Maroon5
» Lynyrd Skynyrd
» Cher
» ZZ Top
» CeeLo Green
» Shania Twain
» Ludacris
» Kenny Chesney
» Kenny Rogers
» Rod Stewart
» Jimmy Buffet
» Lil Wayne
» Lionel Richie
» Reba McEntire
As an entertainment venue, it has also hosted Disney on Ice, WWE wrestling events, Thunder National’s Monster Trucks, and Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
It hosts UTC graduation ceremonies, too.
McKenzie Arena History
McKenzie Arena opened on October 8, 1982, with a construction cost of $15.5 million. Its seating arrangement and capacity have remained essentially the same since its opening four-plus decades ago. Campbell & Associates Architects designed the arena.
First Events
The first event at McKenzie Arena was a Kenny Rogers concert on Oct. 8, 1982, which drew 12,000 people.
The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team began playing home games in the arena for the 1982-1983 basketball season. The UTC women’s basketball team began playing at McKenzie Arena in the 1999-2000 basketball season.
McKenzie Arena replaced Maclellan Gymnasium as the home of the Mocs basketball teams. Currently, Maclellan Gymnasium remains home to the UTC volleyball and wrestling teams.
In the first basketball season at McKenzie, the Mocs hosted North Carolina, the defending national champion college basketball team. North Carolina featured players like Michael Jordan, Brad Daugherty, and Sam Perkins. North Carolina won 73-66 before 11,218 fans.
Changes and Upgrades
The arena’s original name was UTC Arena before it became McKenzie Arena in February 2000.
The arena’s long-time nickname is The Roundhouse, partly because of the facility’s round shape and partly because of Chattanooga’s long history with the railroad industry.
In 2022, UTC officials broke ground on the first major upgrade to McKenzie Arena with the Wolford Family Athletic Center. The project involves adding new athletic training and meeting space inside a building adjacent to McKenzie Arena and making upgrades inside and outside the arena.
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Seating Chart:
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Parking Information:
Information about the McKenzie Arena parking options.