Von Braun Center
Encyclopedia
The Von Braun Center known as the Von Braun Civic Center (VBCC) until 1997, is a multi-purpose indoor arena
, meeting, and performing arts complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity
of 10,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama
. The original facility debuted in 1975 and has undergone several significant expansions since opening.
The VBC, in addition to the arena, features multiple exhibit halls, a concert hall, a playhouse and many other facilities, for meetings and exhibits.
rocket
scientist
who, after World War II
, was brought to the United States Army
's Redstone Arsenal
and along with many of his colleagues, laid the foundation for the United States
space program, which was deemed to have put Huntsville "on the map" in the mind of many of its citizens.
, with the former Huntsville Flight
; UAH Chargers ice hockey
(CHA
); Oakwood University's Alumni Celebration, Huntsville Blast
and Huntsville Channel Cats
ice hockey, and Alabama Vipers arena football. Currently, it is the home of the Huntsville Havoc
of the Southern Professional Hockey League
and the Alabama Hammers
of the Southern Indoor Football League
among other events.
It was there that the UAH Chargers ice hockey team won two Division II hockey championships before their transition to Division I. On February 10, 2007, the Huntsville Havoc
beat the Knoxville Ice Bears
7-6, in front of the largest crowd for a sporting event in the VBC's history, with 7,083 fans, in standing room only
.
It was the site of the first-ever Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
card, which featured in-ring cameos by Toby Keith
and Sterling Marlin
.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
, meeting, and performing arts complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 10,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. The original facility debuted in 1975 and has undergone several significant expansions since opening.
The VBC, in addition to the arena, features multiple exhibit halls, a concert hall, a playhouse and many other facilities, for meetings and exhibits.
History
It is named in honor of Dr. Wernher von Braun, a former GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
scientist
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
who, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was brought to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
and along with many of his colleagues, laid the foundation for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
space program, which was deemed to have put Huntsville "on the map" in the mind of many of its citizens.
Sports
Over the years it has hosted NBDL basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, with the former Huntsville Flight
Albuquerque Thunderbirds
The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star...
; UAH Chargers ice hockey
Alabama-Huntsville Chargers ice hockey
The Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team is currently the only Division I ice hockey program located south of the Mason–Dixon Line, fielded by the University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama...
(CHA
College Hockey America
College Hockey America is a women's college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference is currently made up of four women's teams in New York and Pennsylvania....
); Oakwood University's Alumni Celebration, Huntsville Blast
Huntsville Blast
The Huntsville Blast was a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the East Coast Hockey League . The Blast played at the Von Braun Center Arena in Huntsville, Alabama for the 1993–94 ECHL season. Previously the franchise played as the Roanoke Valley Rampage in Vinton, Virginia...
and Huntsville Channel Cats
Huntsville Channel Cats
The Huntsville Channel Cats was a professional ice hockey team based in Huntsville, Alabama. The franchise was a member of several different leagues, the Southern Hockey League , the Central Hockey League and the South East Hockey League...
ice hockey, and Alabama Vipers arena football. Currently, it is the home of the Huntsville Havoc
Huntsville Havoc
The Huntsville Havoc are a professional ice hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League . They play their home games at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.-History:...
of the Southern Professional Hockey League
Southern Professional Hockey League
The Southern Professional Hockey League is a low-level professional ice hockey league based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with teams located in the southeastern United States.- History :...
and the Alabama Hammers
Alabama Hammers
The Alabama Hammers are a professional indoor football team in the Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, the Hammers play their home games at the Von Braun Center....
of the Southern Indoor Football League
Southern Indoor Football League
The Southern Indoor Football League was an indoor football league based in the Southern and Eastern United States. The most recent incarnation of the league was a consolidation of an earlier league of the same name that was formed by Thom Hager along with Dan Blum, Robert Winfrey and Dan Ryan in...
among other events.
It was there that the UAH Chargers ice hockey team won two Division II hockey championships before their transition to Division I. On February 10, 2007, the Huntsville Havoc
Huntsville Havoc
The Huntsville Havoc are a professional ice hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League . They play their home games at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.-History:...
beat the Knoxville Ice Bears
Knoxville Ice Bears
The Knoxville Ice Bears are a professional ice hockey team. The team competes in the Southern Professional Hockey League. They play their home games at James White Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2006 the Ice Bears defeated the Florida Seals to take the SPHL championship and the...
7-6, in front of the largest crowd for a sporting event in the VBC's history, with 7,083 fans, in standing room only
Standing room only
An event is described as standing room only when it is so well-attended that all of the chairs in the venue are occupied, leaving only flat spaces of pavement or flooring for other attendees to stand. Some venues issue standing-room-only tickets for a reduced cost since it can become very...
.
It was the site of the first-ever Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
card, which featured in-ring cameos by Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
and Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
.