Nutter Center
The Wright State University Nutter Center is a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio.[1] Opened on December 1, 1990, after 20 months of construction involving 400 workers and spanning 260,000 square feet, the facility was named for local philanthropist Ervin J. Nutter following his $1.5 million donation in 1986, supplemented by $8 million from state funds and university student fees.[2] It serves as the primary home venue for the NCAA Division I Wright State Raiders men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team, with configurations seating 8,000 for basketball games and up to 11,200 for concerts and other events.[3][4] Beyond university athletics, the arena hosts major concerts by artists such as KISS and Elton John, professional sports teams including the Dayton Bombers ice hockey club from 1996 to 2009, high school athletic tournaments, university commencements, and political gatherings like Barack Obama's 2008 rally and John McCain's vice presidential announcement with Sarah Palin.[2] This establishes the Nutter Center as a central hub for sports and entertainment in the Dayton region.[3]History
Founding and construction
In 1986, Ervin J. Nutter, a Dayton-area businessman, engineer, inventor, and philanthropist, donated $1.5 million to Wright State University to initiate the development of a multi-purpose arena on its campus.[2][5] This gift catalyzed the planning and funding efforts for what would become the Ervin J. Nutter Center, intended to serve as a venue for university athletics, concerts, and regional events.[2] Construction broke ground in 1988, following architectural design by HOK Sport (now Populous) and KZF Design, with the project aimed at creating a 12,000-seat facility equipped for basketball, ice hockey, and entertainment productions.[6] The total construction cost reached $34.5 million, funded through a combination of Nutter's donation, university resources, and public contributions.[7] Over a 20-month build period, the arena incorporated features like a hardwood basketball floor convertible to an ice rink measuring 200 by 85 feet.[8] The facility was completed in late 1990, marking a significant expansion for Wright State University's infrastructure to support its growing athletic programs and attract off-campus events.[9]Opening and early operations
The Ervin J. Nutter Center initiated operations on December 1, 1990, with its first event—a Wright State Raiders men's basketball game against Tennessee State University, marking the team's home opener in the new facility.[10] The $34 million arena, designed for multi-purpose use including university athletics and public gatherings, rapidly transitioned from construction completion to active programming.[11] A formal opening concert by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra followed on December 15, 1990, highlighting the venue's entertainment capabilities.[12] Early operations emphasized diverse programming to establish the center as a regional hub, booking 120 events in its first seven months from December 1990 to June 1991.[13] The facility served as the primary home for Wright State University's intercollegiate sports, particularly basketball and volleyball, accommodating up to 8,000 spectators for games while supporting the Raiders' transition to Division I competition.[3] Concerts began promptly, with the inaugural rock performance on January 10, 1991, featuring ZZ Top and the Black Crowes, drawing audiences beyond the university community.[11] These initial activities underscored the center's role in boosting campus visibility and local economic activity, with events spanning sports, music, and expositions that filled its configurable seating and auxiliary spaces.[2] By mid-1991, the venue had solidified its operational model, balancing university priorities with revenue-generating public bookings to offset maintenance costs.[14]Facilities and specifications
Arena capacity and configurations
The Ervin J. Nutter Center features a flexible seating arrangement with a maximum capacity of approximately 11,200 for end-stage concerts and in-the-round configurations.[15][16] This setup utilizes the full arena floor and upper levels, supported by a 70-foot-high curtain and truss system that allows adjustments for various event scales.[15] For basketball games, the arena configures to approximately 9,500 seats, accommodating the court layout while providing sideline and baseline seating.[15] Half-house configurations, suitable for smaller events like theater productions or partial-stage shows, range from approximately 2,000 to 7,500 seats, enabling cost-effective operations by limiting access to sections of the venue.[15]| Configuration | Approximate Capacity |
|---|---|
| End-stage concert | 11,200[15] |
| In-the-round | 11,200[15] |
| Basketball | 9,500[15] |
| Half-house | 2,000–7,500[15] |