View source for Chaifetz Arena

{{Short description|Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, US}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}{{Infobox venue
| name = Chaifetz Arena
| logo_image = Chaifetz_Arena_logo.png
| image = Chaifetz arena.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = 
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=220|zoom=15|type=point}}
| location = 1 South Compton Avenue<br />[[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]] 63103
| coordinates = {{Coord|38.63246|N|90.22797|W|type:landmark_source:placeopedia|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = August 28, 2006<ref>[http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246206 Chaifetz Arena – SLUBillikens.com]</ref>
| built = 
| opened = April 10, 2008<ref name="kcjohnsonstlpd">{{cite news |title=Chaifetz Arena Celebrates 5th Anniversary|first=Kevin C.|last=Johnson|url=http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/chaifetz-arena-celebrates-th-anniversary-today/article_d617e27b-55ec-52fb-b96c-db44154b45f7.html|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=April 10, 2013|access-date=April 10, 2013}}</ref>
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Saint Louis University]]
| operator = [[Comcast Spectacor|Spectra by Comcast Spectacor]]
| surface = Multi-surface
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]80.5 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|80500000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Sink Combs Dethlefs<br />Mackey Mitchell Associates
| structural engineer = Alper Audi, Inc.
| general_contractor = Clayco Construction
| tenants = [[Saint Louis Billikens]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]]) (2008–present)
| seating_capacity = 10,600
| record_attendance = 11,727 ([[Sabrina Carpenter]]; [[Short n' Sweet Tour|October 17, 2024]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-03 |title=Sabrina Carpenter |url=https://www.pollstar.com/artists/sabrina-carpenter-190115 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=[[Pollstar]] |language=en-US |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| publictransit = {{rint|bus|1}} [[MetroBus (St. Louis)|MetroBus]]
| website = {{URL|http://thechaifetzarena.com/}}
}}
'''Chaifetz Arena''' ({{IPAc-en|'|ʃ|eɪ|f|ɛ|t|s}} {{respell|SHAY|fets}}),<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/03/10/focus7.html?page=all Allen, Matt. "Clayco, Mackey Mitchell finish SLU's Chaifetz Arena," ''St. Louis Business Journal'', March 9, 2008.]</ref>  is a 10,600 seat multi-purpose [[arena]] in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], located on the [[Saint Louis University]] campus. The arena began construction on August 28, 2006, and opened on April 10, 2008.<ref name="kcjohnsonstlpd"/>

In February 2007, [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]]-based businessman [[Richard Chaifetz]], CEO of ComPsych Corporation and 1975 graduate of SLU, made a $12 million donation to the university, which named the arena in his honor.

Since the 2008–09 season, it has been the home of the Saint Louis University [[Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball|men's]] and women's [[College basketball|basketball]] teams.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/158224894/|title=Finally - Basketball at Chaifetz|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=November 14, 2008|access-date=November 1, 2024|page=X001|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Additionally, the attached Chaifetz Pavilion includes a two-court basketball and volleyball practice facility that also serves as an 800-seat venue that is the home for the university's [[volleyball]] teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205246206/ |title=Chaifetz Arena – SLUBillikens.com – The Official Athletics Website of Saint Louis University |website=www.slubillikens.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111151457/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205246206/ |archive-date=2013-11-11}}</ref> The arena, known as "the Jewel of Midtown," includes a three-story athletic office. <!-- and a blue victory light on the roof that is activated after each Billiken home victory.<ref>http://www.claycorp.com/p/240/chaifetz-arena-at-st-louis-university/ {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> --> Former VCU coach [[Shaka Smart]] called Chaifetz Arena the toughest venue to play in the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]].<ref>{{cite news |title=SLU Notes: SLU's Glaze Out with Dislocated Shoulder|first=Stu|last=Durando|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/slu-notes-slu-s-glaze-out-with-dislocated-shoulder/article_82792f6c-d87e-5adc-97a9-02786fe2181b.html|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=October 14, 2014|access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>

==Men's basketball record at Chaifetz Arena==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saint Louis Billikens|color=white}};"|Year
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saint Louis Billikens|color=white}};"|Conference record
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saint Louis Billikens|color=white}};"|Record overall
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saint Louis Billikens|color=white}};"|Winning Percentage
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saint Louis Billikens|color=white}};"|Head Coach
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Saint Louis Billikens|color=white}};"|Average Attendance
|-
| {{nowrap|2008–2009}}
| 6–2
| 14–3
| {{Winning percentage|14|3}}
| {{nowrap|[[Rick Majerus]]}}
| 7,627
|-
| 2009–2010
| 6–2
| 18–4
| {{Winning percentage|18|4}}
| Rick Majerus
| 7,149
|-
| 2010–2011
| 4–4
| 9–7
| {{Winning percentage|9|7}}
| Rick Majerus
| 6,299
|-
| 2011–2012
| 7–1
| 15–1
| {{Winning percentage|15|1}}
| Rick Majerus
| 7,757
|-
| 2012–2013
| 7–1
| 17–2
| {{Winning percentage|17|2}}
| [[Jim Crews]]
| 7,673
|-
| 2013–2014
| 6–2
| 14–3
| {{Winning percentage|14|3}}
| Jim Crews
| 8,428
|-
| 2014–2015
| 3–6
| 9–9
| {{Winning percentage|9|9}}
| Jim Crews
| 7,032
|-
| 2015–2016
| 3–6
| 7–11
| {{Winning percentage|7|11}}
| Jim Crews
| 6,757
|-
| 2016–2017
| 5–4
| 10–8
| {{Winning percentage|10|8}}
| [[Travis Ford]]
| 5,593
|-
| 2017–2018
| 6–3
| 12–6
| {{Winning percentage|12|6}}
| Travis Ford
| 6,235
|-
| 2018–2019
| 7–2
| 15–2
| {{Winning percentage|15|2}}
| Travis Ford
| 6,890
|-
| 2019–2020
| 7–2
| 15–3
| {{Winning percentage|15|3}}
| Travis Ford
| 6,880
|-
| 2020–2021
| 5–1
| 12–1
| {{Winning percentage|12|1}}
| Travis Ford
| 
|-
| 2021–2022
| 8–1
| 14–5
| {{Winning percentage|14|5}}
| Travis Ford
| 5,517
|-
| 2022–2023
| 8–1
| 15–3
| {{Winning percentage|15|3}}
| Travis Ford
| 7,088
|-
| 2023–2024
| 2–7
| 8–8
| {{Winning percentage|8|8}}
| Travis Ford
| 5,640
|-
| 2024–2025
| 7−2
| 14−3
| {{Winning percentage|14|3}}
| [[Josh Schertz]]
| 5,966
|-
| '''TOTALS'''
| '''97–47'''
| '''218–79'''
| '''{{Winning percentage|218|79}}'''
|
|}

==Events==
The first event held at the venue was a [[Harlem Globetrotters]] game against the [[Washington Generals]], played on April 11, 2008.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130129085727/http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6287199&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1 MyFox St. Louis {{!}} New Chaifetz Arena Opens With Globetrotters]}}</ref>

Music acts such as [[Barry Manilow]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Britney Spears]], and [[Sabrina Carpenter]] have performed at the arena; the lattermost breaking the attendance record with a crowd of 11,727.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-03 |title=Sabrina Carpenter |url=https://www.pollstar.com/artists/sabrina-carpenter-190115 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=[[Pollstar]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

The first student concert was held on April 26, 2008, featuring artists [[Tyler Hilton]], [[Chingy]], [[The Starting Line]], [[Jo Dee Messina]], and [[Augustana (band)|Augustana]].

Saint Louis University held its first [[Graduation|commencement ceremony]] on campus in 60 years at the arena on May 17, 2008.  [[Fox Sports (USA)|Fox Sports]] personality and native St. Louisan [[Joe Buck]] delivered the Commencement Address.

The first political rally at the Arena was on October 2, 2008, for Republican vice presidential candidate [[Sarah Palin]]. She appeared to supporters after the 2008 vice presidential debate held at [[Washington University in St. Louis]].<ref>[http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=156010&catid=3 Palin Supporters in St. Louis Hold VP Debate Watch Party {{pipe}} ksdk.com {{pipe}} St. Louis, MO]</ref>

[[FIRST Robotics Competition]] has held its St. Louis FRC Regional at Chaifetz Arena for several years.

[[American Idol]]s Live! made its Chaifetz Arena debut in 2009, having previously been held at the [[Enterprise Center]] ([[American Idols Live! Tour 2002|2002]]) and [[Family Arena]] ([[American Idols Live! Tour 2003|2003]]–[[American Idols Live! Tour 2008|2008]]).  Chaifetz Arena also became the St. Louis stop for [[Champions on Ice]] and [[Cirque du Soleil]], also in 2009.

The arena hosted the Monster Truck Spectacular Fall Nationals on October 17, 2009.

The [[USA Gymnastics]] Championships occurred June 7–10, 2012 at the Chaifetz Arena.

[[Impact Wrestling|TNA]] [[No Surrender (2013)|No Surrender]] took place at the arena on September 12, 2013,

The 2016 Men's U.S. Olympic Trials and P&G Gymnastics Championships were held at Chaifetz Arena June 23–26, 2016. The 2018 SEC Gymnastics championships were held at the arena.

[[WWE]] held its first show there on July 21, 2018.

[[League of Legends]] North American LCS spring finals was held on April 13, 2019, at the Chaifetz Arena.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2019/01/2019-lcs-spring-finals-will-be-held-in-st-louis/|title=2019 LCS Spring Finals will be held in St. Louis}}</ref>

Professional wrestling promotion [[All Elite Wrestling]] held an episode of their weekly television show ''[[AEW Rampage]]'' at the arena on November 5, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coder|first=Brie|date=October 29, 2021|title=Two matches are announced for next week's AEW Rampage|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/two-matches-are-announced-for-next-weeks-aew-rampage/|url-status=live|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030033156/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/two-matches-are-announced-for-next-weeks-aew-rampage/ |archive-date=October 30, 2021 }}</ref>  On January 20, 2024, AEW held an episode of their weekly television show ''[[AEW Collision]].'' On April 21, 2024, All Elite Wrestling held [[AEW Dynasty|Dynasty]] at the arena.

[[Tim McGraw]] performed a benefit concert at Chaifetz Arena on April 29, 2023.  Proceeds from the show went to benefit [[Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital]] in St. Louis.  The show was sold out.  The [[Zac Brown Band]] performed on April 6, 2024 for Cardinal Glennon.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.thechaifetzarena.com/ Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070505085913/http://clayco.oxblue.com/cam5/ Archived Construction Camera]

{{Saint Louis University}}
{{Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball navbox}}
{{Saint Louis Billikens women's basketball navbox}}
{{Atlantic 10 Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{Missouri NCAA Division I college basketball venue navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2008 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in St. Louis]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:College gymnastics venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Gymnastics venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Saint Louis Billikens basketball venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2008]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Missouri]]
[[Category:Sports venues in St. Louis]]
[[Category:Indoor arenas in Missouri]]
[[Category:Wrestling venues in the United States]]