Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena

Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena

Former names	UMBC Event Center (2018–2021)
Address	1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250
Location	Hilltop Circle & Commons Drive
Coordinates	39.2523419°N 76.707431°W / 39.2523419; -76.707431
Public transit	CityLink Yellow, UMBC Transit
Owner	University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Operator	Oak View Group
Capacity	4,654 (basketball) 5,500 (concerts)[1]
Construction
Broke ground	March 2016
Opened	February 3, 2018 (2018-02-03)
Construction cost	$85 million
Architect	CannonDesign
Structural engineer	Providence Engineering Corporation[1]
General contractor	Barton Malow
Tenants
UMBC Retrievers
Website
www.chesapeakeemployersinsurancearena.com

The Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena (formerly the UMBC Event Center) is a basketball arena, concert and multi-purpose event venue on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in Catonsville, Maryland. It is the home of the UMBC Retrievers men's and women's basketball teams as well as the volleyball team and serves as a replacement to the Retriever Activities Center (RAC). It has a capacity of 5,000 seats, approximately 1,000 more than the RAC, and is the campus venue for all commencements and concerts.^[2] Construction began in March 2016, with an estimated cost of $67 million.^[3] Although the venue was originally supposed to be completed in time for the beginning of the Fall 2017 semester and the start of the 2017–18 athletic season,^[4] due to delays it officially opened for the February 3 men's basketball game against Vermont.^[5]

The U.S. professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) frequently used the arena during the period it was owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, which is based in nearby Hunt Valley. This included television tapings during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were held behind closed doors.^{[citation needed]}

On April 19, 2021, the UMBC Events Center changed its name to the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena after signing a 15-year deal for arena naming rights.^[6]

The interior of the center during a game.

References

1. "Arena info". University of Maryland–Baltimore County Department of Athletics. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
2. "New Event Center Making Headway". Retriever Weekly. University of Maryland–Baltimore County. February 8, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
3. Chigurupati, Snigdha (February 8, 2016). "Breaking Ground on the Retriever Event Center". Retriever Weekly. University of Maryland–Baltimore County. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
4. Norris, Heather (July 24, 2015). "Construction to Begin in Winter for New UMBC Arena". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
5. Scherr, Rich (February 3, 2018). "UMBC's Loss to Vermont Doesn't Dampen Excitement for Event Center Opener". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
6. Wilen, Holden (April 19, 2021). "UMBC, Chesapeake Employers' Insurance ink 15-year deal for arena naming rights". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

External links

• Official website