Naming rights to the arena were initially sold to Amiga, Inc. and the arena was to be called the "Amiga Center".[3] However, Amiga failed to make a promised down payment, and lost the naming rights as of August 2007.[4] In November 2008, the Kent City Council announced that the city had sold the naming rights to the Fresno-based VisionOne, Inc., an e-businesssoftware developer which in turn named the arena after ShoWare, its flagship box office operations program.[5] In 2014, tech company Accesso purchased VisionOne, Inc.; with the venue changing its name to the accesso ShoWare Center in the fall of 2017.[6]
The design architect is LMN Architects of Seattle, in association with PBK Architects of Vancouver, British Columbia.[7] The arena is managed and operated by Philadelphia-based SMG.
In 2021, the ShoWare Center began a $5 million renovation to the arena, including a $800,000 scoreboard, which was completed early in the 2021-22 season. More additions to this renovation include a new cover for the ice while not in use, concession stand rebrands, the improving of the outdoor marquee, replacement of folding chairs, kitchens and other concession equipment, new stage and blackout curtains, and ice making equipment. Smaller improvements include new carpets in administrative offices, a stronger transformer to be used during concerts, motors for the curtains, the refinishing and repairing of the basketball court, repairing of fences and gates, and 40 new televisions for the suites. [9]
Facts about the venue
Miscellaneous
The approximate square footage of the arena is 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2)
The new scoreboard built in 2021 includes two ribbon boards, the top board measuring 21'4" x 3'3", the bottom measuring 18'10" x 2'6". The four main replay screens measure 18'10" x 10'8".[10]
The arena has a capacity of 5,887 seats. Retractable seating to provide additional space for concerts, basketball, shows and other events, expanding the capacity to 7,141.
The venue typically hosts 110 to 117 events annually, including about 40 Thunderbird games.
The 2 millionth guest celebration was held on November 11, 2014.[12]
Sports
Brenden Silvester of the Seattle Thunderbirds scored the first goal in the history of the arena, in the 2nd period on January 3, 2009 against the Everett Silvertips in a 4-3 Seattle win.
Greg Scott of the Seattle Thunderbirds scored the first hat trick in the arena on February 6, 2009
The 2015-2016 hockey season reached an all time attendance record with an average of 4,792 people per game.[13]
Hockey single game attendance record of 6,223 set on May 12, 2017 during the WHL finals against the Regina Pats.[14]
Hosted first professional basketball games during the 2018 JBA season.
In Professional Wrestling, the arena has hosted three house shows for the TNA Wrestling promotion (2009, 2011, 2012) and one taped event for Ring of Honor wrestling's weekly television program (2019).
^ ab"Current Boxscore". Billboard. 128. Nashville, Tennessee: Eldridge Industries. December 24, 2016. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
^"Current Boxscore". Billboard. 129 (12). Nashville, Tennessee: Eldridge Industries. May 27, 2017. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
^"Current Boxscore". Billboard. 129 (21). Nashville, Tennessee: Eldridge Industries. September 23, 2017. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
^"Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 129. Nashville, Tennessee: Eldridge Industries. November 25, 2017. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
^ ab"Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 129 (29). Nashville, Tennessee: Eldridge Industries. December 23, 2017. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
^"Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. 130 (13). Nashville, Tennessee: Eldridge Industries. May 19, 2018. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
