U·S Airways Center recognized for concert popularity

U·S Airways Center is packing the place, and that is giving the venue some national recognition.

Concert industry trade publication Pollstar Magazine has ranked U·S Airways Center ninth out of the top 100 performance arenas internationally, on the basis of the venue's ticket sales in the first six months of 2005.

In excess of 2 million guests come to U·S Airways Center each year for entertainment and sports events.

"U·S Airways Center continues to be the state of the art performance venue here with incredible amenities and hospitality that performers, managers and fans consistently enjoy," said Paige Peterson, president and general manager for Sports Entertainment Services, which manages U·S Airways Center. "This ranking by Pollstar is a tribute to not only our showplace, but also to all of the employees who operate it day in and day out."

When the arena first opened in 1992, the publication honored it with the "Best New Major Concert Venue Award" and has since nominated it six times for the "U·S Airways Center of the Year."

U·S Airways Center recently underwent a nearly $70 million expansion project which included the addition of the Bud Light Paseo -- an outdoor venue featuring a full stage performance area for concerts and broadcasts and new video equipment.

The arena is slated for a name change following the merger of America West Airlines and US Airways, into the new US Airways (NYSE: LCC). A date has not been scheduled for an official announcement.

U·S Airways Center is home to the NBA Phoenix Suns, AFL Arizona Rattlers, and WNBA Phoenix Mercury.

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