View source for PeoplesBank Arena

{{Short description|Arena and convention center in Hartford, Connecticut}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = PeoplesBank Arena
| logo_image = [[File:PeoplesBank Arena Logo (Blue) - 2025.svg|200px|PeoplesBank Arena Logo (Blue)]]
| logo_caption = The PeoplesBank Arena logo.
| image = XL Center Ice panorama.jpg
| caption = The PeoplesBank Arena with empty seats with the ice configuration
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| pushpin_map = Connecticut#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Connecticut##Location within the United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_label = PeoplesBank Arena
| address = 1 Civic Center Plaza
| location = [[Hartford, Connecticut]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|46|06|N| 72|40|37|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = April 2, 1971<ref>{{cite news |title=Ground is Broken For the Civic Center |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/950165322.html?dids=950165322:950165322&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+02%2C+1971&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Ground+is+Broken+For+the+Civic+Center&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108020747/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/950165322.html?dids=950165322:950165322&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+02,+1971&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Ground+is+Broken+For+the+Civic+Center&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]] |date=April 2, 1971 |access-date=September 20, 2011}}</ref>
| opened = January 9, 1975
| closed = 1978–1980 (roof collapse, renovations), Q2 2025 (renovations)
| former_names = Hartford Civic Center (1975–2007)<br>XL Center (2007–2025)
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Hartford, Connecticut|City of Hartford]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Opportunities for The Hartford Civic Center |url=http://www.ctcda.com/images/customer-files/HCC%20RFP%20final.pdf |website=The Connecticut Development Authority |access-date=March 30, 2008 |page=36 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912140011/http://www.ctcda.com/images/customer-files/HCC%20RFP%20final.pdf |archive-date=September 12, 2008}}</ref>
| operator = [[Oak View Group]]
| surface = {{convert|200|×|85|ft|abbr=on}} (hockey)
| construction_cost = originally $30 million<ref>{{cite news |title=A Quiet Hartford Civic Center Turns 20 Today |first=Mike |last=Swift |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/01/09/a-quiet-hartford-civic-center-turns-20-today/ |newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]] |date=January 9, 1995|access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref><br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|30000000|1975}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = [[KlingStubbins|Kling & Associates]]<br>Danos and Associates<ref>{{cite book |title=Modern concrete: Volume 40 |year=1976 |publisher=Pit & Quarry Publications |location=Chicago |page=20}}</ref>
| project_manager = [[Gilbane|Gilbane Building Company]]<ref name="emporis">{{cite web |title=XL Center|url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?lng=3&nav=building&id=261572 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130220042710/http://www.emporis.com/application/?lng=3&nav=building&id=261572 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 20, 2013 |website=[[Emporis]] |access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref>
| structural engineer = Fraoli, Blum, and Yesselman, Engineers<ref>{{cite web |title=Failure Cases – Hartford Civic Center |url=http://matdl.org/failurecases/Building%20Cases/Hartford.htm |publisher=Materials Education and Research Pathway |access-date=February 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801103558/http://matdl.org/failurecases/Building%20Cases/Hartford.htm |archive-date=August 1, 2010 }}</ref>
| services engineer = 
| general_contractor = William L. Crow Construction Company<ref name="emporis"/>
| tenants = [[Hartford Wolf Pack]]{{efn|Known as the Connecticut Whale from 2010 to 2013.}} ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) (1997–present)<br>[[UConn Huskies]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br> [[UConn Huskies men's basketball|Men's basketball]] (1975–present){{efn|name=pt|Part-time.}}{{efn|name=roof|Tenure interrupted in 1979 by roof collapse.}}<br>[[UConn Huskies women's basketball|Women's basketball]] (1975–present){{efn|name=pt}}{{efn|name=roof}}<br> [[UConn Huskies men's ice hockey|Men's ice hockey]] (2014–present){{efn|name=pt|Part-time.}}<br>[[Hartford Whalers|New England / Hartford Whalers]] ([[World Hockey Association|WHA]] / [[National Hockey League|NHL]]) (1975–1997){{efn|name=roof}}<br>[[Boston Celtics]] ([[National Basketball Association|NBA]]) (1975–1995){{efn|name=pt}}<br>[[Hartford Hellions]] ([[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92)|MISL]]) (1980–1981)<br>[[Connecticut Coyotes]] ([[Arena Football League|AFL]]) (1995–1996)<br>[[New England Blizzard]] ([[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|ABL]]) (1996–1998)<br>[[Connecticut Pride]] ([[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]) (1993–2000)<br>[[New England Sea Wolves]] ([[Arena Football League|AFL]]) (1999–2000)
| seating_capacity = Concerts: 20,500<br>Basketball: 15,684<br>Ice hockey: 14,750 (9,801 with curtain system)
| publictransit = [[File:Aiga railtransportation 25.svg|12px|Railway Train]] [[File:Hartford Line Transparent.png|16px|link=Hartford Line]] [[Hartford Union Station|Hartford]] <br> {{bus icon}} [[File:CTtransit logo.png|16px|link=CT Transit Hartford]] 38, 60, 62, 64, 66, 72, 74, 76, Dash
| website = {{URL|peoplesbankarena.com}}
}}

The '''PeoplesBank Arena''' (originally known as the '''Hartford Civic Center''' and formerly as the '''XL Center''') is a multi-purpose [[arena]] and [[convention center]] located in downtown [[Hartford, Connecticut]]. Owned by the City of Hartford, it is managed by the quasi-public [[Capital Region Development Authority]] (CRDA) under a lease with the city and operated by [[Oak View Group|OVG]]. The arena is ranked the 28th largest among college basketball arenas. It opened in 1975 as the Hartford Civic Center and was originally located adjacent to [[Civic Center Mall]], which was demolished in 2004. It consists of two facilities: the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Exhibition Center. In December 2007, the center was renamed when the arena's naming rights were sold to [[XL Group]] insurance company in a six-year agreement. This agreement was extended and lasted until 2025 when the arena was renamed as part of an agreement with [[PeoplesBank]].

On March 21, 2007, the CRDA selected the Northland/[[Anschutz Entertainment Group]] proposal to operate the arena complex; Northland also developed the [[Hartford 21]] residential tower on the adjacent Civic Center Mall site. The agreement also stated that Northland would assume total responsibility for the building bearing the cost of any and all losses, and would retain any profits. In 2012, the CRDA put the contract out to bid with hopes of combining the operations with [[Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field|Rentschler Field]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Secrecy On XL Center, Rentschler Plans Isn't Helping Matters |first=Jeff |last=Jacobs |url=https://www.courant.com/2013/02/03/secrecy-on-xl-center-rentschler-plans-isnt-helping-matters/ |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=February 3, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref> In February 2013, [[Comcast Spectacor#Global Spectrum|Global Spectrum]] of Philadelphia was chosen to take over both the XL Center and Rentschler Field with Ovations Food Services taking over all food and beverage operations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Philadelphia Group Picked To Run XL Center, Rentschler Field |first=Kenneth R. |last=Gosselin |url=http://www.hartfordinfo.org/issues/documents/downtowndevelopment/htfd_courant_020713.asp |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=February 7, 2013 |access-date=July 29, 2024 |via=Hartford Public Library}}</ref>

==Overview==
The PeoplesBank Arena is the full-time home of the [[Hartford Wolf Pack]] AHL hockey team and part-time home of the [[University of Connecticut]] (UConn) men's and women's basketball teams and the [[UConn Huskies men's ice hockey]] team. Starting in the late 1990s, UConn men's basketball moved most of their important games—including the bulk of their [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]] games—to the Coliseum. During the 2011–2012 season, for instance, they played 11 home games at the Coliseum and only eight at their on-campus facility, [[Harry A. Gampel Pavilion|Gampel Pavilion]]. This practice continued when the Huskies joined the [[American Athletic Conference]], [[2010–13 Big East Conference realignment|successor]] to the original Big East, in 2013. The [[Connecticut Huskies men's ice hockey|UConn men's hockey team]] uses the PeoplesBank Arena as its primary home as the newest men's member of [[Hockey East]].<!--UConn is still the newest men's member of Hockey East, but not the newest overall; that would be the Holy Cross women.-->

It was the home of the [[Hartford Whalers|New England/Hartford Whalers]] of the [[World Hockey Association|WHA]] and [[National Hockey League|NHL]] from 1975 to 1978 and 1980 to 1997, and the [[Hartford Hellions]] of the [[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)|MISL]] from 1980 to 1981, and the [[New England Blizzard]] of the [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|ABL]] from 1996 to 1998, and hosted occasional [[Boston Celtics]] home games from 1975 to 1995. One of the most famous shots [[Larry Bird]] ever made, although it did not count, took place at the Hartford Civic Center: the shot from behind the backboard.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-11-21-0000001622-story.html |title=Bird Had Right Touch in Hartford |first=Michael |last=Arace |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=November 21, 1993 |access-date=June 19, 2022}}</ref> It was the home of the [[Connecticut Coyotes]] and later the [[New England Sea Wolves]] of the [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]].
[[File:Hartford Civic Center (2988429730).jpg|left|thumb|Aerial view of arena exterior.]]
The arena seats 15,635 for [[ice hockey]] and 16,294 for [[basketball]], 16,606 for center-stage [[concerts]], 16,282 for end-stage concerts, and 8,239 for {{frac|3|4}}-end stage concerts, and contains 46 luxury suites and a 310-seat Coliseum Club, plus {{convert|25000|sqft|m2|-2}} of arena floor space, enabling it to be used for trade shows and conventions in addition to concerts, circuses, ice shows, sporting events and other events. The [[Commencement at CCSU|graduation ceremonies of Central Connecticut State University]] and other local colleges are also held annually at the PeoplesBank Arena.

===Early history and roof collapse===
[[File:HartfordCivicCenterSoldOut.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The arena remains a site for popular concerts. October 2007.]]
As originally built in 1975, it seated 10,507 for hockey, and served as the home of the then–[[New England Whalers]] for three years. In the early morning of January 18, 1978, the Civic Center's roof collapsed. Engineering analyses during litigation following the collapse indicated that compression members were overloaded through undersizing and underestimation of the probable loadings, and that lateral bracing of individual members was insufficient. "The roof did not fail due to the heavy snow that fell on that January night. According to the official City investigation, the roof began progressive failure as soon as it had been installed. Contributing factors included design errors, an underestimation of the weight of the roof, and differences between the design and the actual built structure."<ref>{{cite web |title=Almost a Tragedy: The Collapse of the Hartford Civic Center |first=Ben |last=Gammell|date=January 18, 2020 |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/almost-a-tragedy-the-collapse-of-the-hartford-civic-center/ |website=Connecticut History}}</ref>

Investigations attributed the design issues to the unprecedented use of and trust in computer analysis. An absence of peer review for the novel structure and design process, and fragmentation of oversight responsibility during construction were also cited as contributing factors. Evidence showed that the roof had started to fail during construction, with bowed compression members. These distortions, and an unpredicted degree of deflection in the structure, were not investigated before the collapse.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Civic Center Arena Roof Collapse |first=Rachel |last=Martin |url=http://www.eng.uab.edu/cee/faculty/ndelatte/case_studies_project/Hartford%20Civic%20Center/hartford.htm |website=University of Alabama at Birmingham; Research Experiences for Undergraduates |access-date=November 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108024915/http://www.eng.uab.edu/cee/faculty/ndelatte/case_studies_project/Hartford%20Civic%20Center/hartford.htm |archive-date=January 8, 2008}}</ref> There were no injuries due to the collapse. The building was extensively renovated and re-opened on January 17, 1980.
[[File:Wolf Pack (AHL) hockey at the formerly XL Center (2025).jpg|thumb|PeoplesBank Arena with a crowd for Wolf Pack Hockey (AHL)]]
The Civic Center hosted the [[Hartford Whalers]] from 1975 to 1997, when the team relocated to [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]] to become the [[Carolina Hurricanes]]. In 1994, new owner [[Peter Karmanos]] pledged to keep the Whalers in Connecticut until 1998, unless they could not sell over 11,000 season tickets. After failed negotiations to build a new downtown arena for the Whalers with then-governor [[John G. Rowland]], on March 25, 1997, Karmanos announced that the team would leave. The [[New York Rangers]] franchise, looking to capitalize on Hartford as a potential market, placed its farm team there to become the Hartford Wolf Pack, starting in 1997. After a short stint as the [[Connecticut Whale (AHL)|Connecticut Whale]] from 2010 to 2012, they reverted to the Wolf Pack moniker in 2013.

===Renovations during the 2010's===
The Civic Center was renamed the XL Center in 2007. In September 2010, the arena was upgraded with a new center-hung scoreboard with four Sony Jumbotrons and a state-of-the-art sound system.<ref>{{cite news |title=XL Center Gets New Video Boards |first=Jeff |last=Jacobs |url=https://www.courant.com/2010/10/05/xl-center-gets-new-video-boards/ |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref>
The Connecticut State Legislature set aside $35 million in funding for improvements to the XL Center that began in early spring 2014 and completed in time for the start of the 2014–15 seasons of the Wolf Pack and UConn men's hockey in October. Improvements included upgrades to the mechanical system, locker rooms and concourse, replacing jumbotrons with a new [[high-definition video|HD video]] board, as well as aesthetic improvements such as a new bar area inside the arena and luxury seating in the lower bowl. A portion of the $35 million allocation went towards a study on the arena's long-term viability; either more major renovations or replacing it with a new facility.

=== 2025 overhaul ===
The arena is undergoing a $138 million overhaul including new seating in the lower bowl, new loge seating, new concourse upgrades, a new event level club, new bunker suites, and back of the house upgrades including a new artists lounge, a new kitchen, and a new locker room space for [[UConn Huskies|UConn]]. The arena is currently closed during renovations over the summer of 2025 and will re-open in the fall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Besthoff |first=Len |last2=Loy • • |first2=Katherine |date=2025-05-20 |title=XL Center closes for multimillion renovation project |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/investigations/xl-center-closes-for-multimillion-renovation-project/3568401/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=NBC Connecticut |language=en-US}}</ref> On June 2, 2025, the XL Center was officially renamed PeoplesBank Arena as part of a 10-year naming partnership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=Hartford home of UConn Huskies basketball renamed PeoplesBank Arena |url=https://apnews.com/article/hartford-arena-peoplesbank-uconn-basketball-xl-211e57868344b04380618ff10b641c6d |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref> 

==Events==

=== Upcoming Events ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date
!
|-
|10/25/25
|[[Stevie Nicks]] North American Tour
|-
|11/13/25
|[[Bert Kreischer|Bret Kreischer]] Permission to Party Tour
|-
|12/13/25
|[[Andrea Bocelli]] Live in Concert
|}


The PeoplesBank Arena has held many notable historical events including:

=== NHL ===

* The [[38th National Hockey League All-Star Game|1986 NHL All Star Game]]
* The [[1994 NHL entry draft|1994 NHL Entry Draft]]

[[File:Hartfordmj.jpg|thumb|200px|The Veterans Memorial Coliseum as set up for [[Monster Jam]]]]

=== College Basketball ===
* The [[ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments|ECAC New England Region tournament]], a [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] men's [[college basketball]] tournament organized by the [[Eastern College Athletic Conference]] (ECAC), took place at the Hartford Civic Center on March 3 and 5, [[ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments#1977 Tournaments|1977]]. The tournament champion received an automatic bid to the [[1977 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments |url=http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=ECAC_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournaments |work=Varsity Pride |date=April 10, 2016 |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1977 ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments |url=http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=1977_ECAC_Men%27s_Basketball_Tournaments |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131211044022/http://jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=1977_ECAC_Men's_Basketball_Tournaments |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |work=Varsity Pride |access-date=June 10, 2014}}</ref>
* The [[2015 American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament|2015]] and [[2017 American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament]] was held from March 12-15 2015 and March 9-12 2017 Incidentally both tournaments were won by [[SMU Mustangs men's basketball|Southern Methodist University]] their only 2 American Athletic Conference Tournament Championships
* The 1982 [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]] and 1988–1990 [[America East Conference]] men's basketball tournaments were also here
* The PeoplesBank Arena has hosted the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Men's Tournament]] first and second round 6 times in 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 2019
* The PeoplesBank Arena has hosted the [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Women's Tournament]] first and second rounds in 2007 and the East Regional Final in 2004
* The [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]] Women's basketball tournament was held from 2004 to 2013.

=== Concerts ===
* Rock group the [[Grateful Dead]] performed at the arena 18 times. <!-- on May 28, 1977; May 10, 1980; March 14, 1981; April 17, 1982; April 18, 1982; October 14, 1983; October 15, 1983; October 14, 1984; October 15, 1984; April 3, 1986; April 4, 1986; March 26, 1987; March 27, 1987; April 3, 1988; April 4, 1988; April 5, 1988; March 18, 1990; and March 19, 1990. The concerts from May 28, 1977; October 14, 1983; March 18, 1990; and March 19, 1990,--> Several concerts were released in entirety on the live albums ''[[To Terrapin: Hartford '77]]'', ''[[Dick's Picks Volume 6]]'', ''[[Spring 1990 (The Other One)]]'', and ''[[Spring 1990 (album)]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Catlin |first1=Roger |title='83 Hartford Show Latest "Dick's Pick" |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-11-03-9611010049-story.html |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=November 3, 1996 |access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>

=== Gymnastics ===
* The arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions in 2016.<ref>{{cite press release |title=2016 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions takes center stage beginning Sept. 15 |date=September 8, 2016 |publisher=USA Gymnastics |url=https://usagym.org/2016-kelloggs-tour-of-gymnastics-champions-takes-center-stage-beginning-sept-15/ |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
* The Arena hosted the 2024 Core Hydration Classic Women's Gymnastics Meet in May of 2024 in the lead up to the [[2024 Summer Olympics|2024 Paris Olympics]]
* The Arena hosted the 1980 [[USGF International Invitational 1980|USGF International Invitational]], a replacement Gymnastics event for countries that participated in the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|1980 US Olympic Boycott]] along side the [[Liberty Bell Classic]] a track and field event in Philadelphia.

=== Other ===
* The PBR ([[Professional Bull Riders]]) made their first-ever visit to the PeoplesBank Arena for a Built Ford Tough Series (now known as the Unleash the Beast Series) event the weekend of October 7–9, 2011.<ref>{{cite press release |title=PBR Built Ford Tough Series Visits Hartford for First Time |url=http://www.pbr.com/en/news/press-releases/2011/10/pbr-visits-hartford.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023101239/http://www.pbr.com/en/news/press-releases/2011/10/pbr-visits-hartford.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2011 |publisher=Professional Bull Riders |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2014}} </ref>
* The arena has hosted many professional wrestling events; including [[Survivor Series (1990)|1990 Survivor Series]] (which saw the debut of popular wrestling legend [[The Undertaker]]), [[WrestleMania XI]], [[No Way Out (2000)|2000 No Way Out]], [[Vengeance (2004)|2004 Vengeance]], and [[Money in the Bank (2019)|2019 Money in the Bank]]. [[All Elite Wrestling]]'s [[AEW Collision]] July 29, 2023, episode.
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Basketball
|-
!scope="col"| Years
!scope="col"| Capacity
|-
!scope="row"| 1975–1979
| 11,000
|-
!scope="row"| 1979–1987
| 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| 1987–1989
| 16,016
|-
!scope="row"| 1989–2014
| 16,294
|-
!scope="row"| 2014–2023
| 15,564
|-
!scope="row"| 2023–present
| 15,684
|}
{{col-break|gap=2em}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Hockey
|-
!scope="col"| Years
!scope="col"| Capacity
|-
!scope="row"| 1975–1979
| 10,507
|-
!scope="row"| 1979–1980
| 14,460<ref>{{cite web |title=1979–80 Hartford Whalers Results and Schedule |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/team_results.php?tid=46&sid=1980|website=Hockey Database |access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 1980–1982
| 14,510<ref>{{cite news |title=Duguay Gets 2 Goals As Rangers Win, 6–4 |first=Deane |last=McGowen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/22/sports/duguay-gets-2-goals-as-rangers-win-6-4.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 22, 1981 |access-date=February 27, 2013 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 1983–1985
| 14,817<ref>{{cite news |title=Whalers Drill Oilers, 11–0, Flood Record Books |first=Bruce |last=Berlet |url=https://www.courant.com/1984/02/13/whalers-drill-oilers-11-0-flood-record-books/ |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=February 13, 1984 |access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 1985–1987
| 15,126<ref name="playoffs">{{cite news |title=Playoff Sales Are Down |first=Jeff |last=Jacobs |url=https://www.courant.com/1992/03/27/playoff-sales-are-down/ |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=March 27, 1992 |access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| 1987–1989
| 15,223<ref name="playoffs"/>
|-
!scope="row"| 1989–2014
| 15,635<ref name="playoffs"/>
|-
!scope="row"| 2014–present
| 14,750<ref>{{cite news |title=Hartford Looking at Upgrades for XL Center – Could the NHL Come Back? |first=Jared |last=Clinton |url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/hartford-looking-at-upgrades-for-xl-center-could-the-nhl-come-back |newspaper=[[The Hockey News]] |date=February 20, 2015 |access-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}

=== Boston Celtics ===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Boston Celtics games played at Hartford Civic Center<ref>{{cite web |website=Basketball Reference |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS |title=Boston Celtics |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Opponent
!scope="col"| Result
!scope="col"| Score
!scope="col"| Game Type
!scope="col"| Attendance
|-
!scope="row"| November 11, 1975
| [[Atlanta Hawks]] || L || 100–91 || [[Regular season|RS]] || 10,591
|-
!scope="row"| December 17, 1975
| [[Kansas City Kings]] || W || 104–118 || RS || 11,243
|-
!scope="row"| January 13, 1976
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]] || W || 94–106 || RS || 11,243
|-
!scope="row"| March 9, 1976
| [[Utah Jazz|New Orleans Jazz]] || L || 117–99 || RS || 11,230
|-
!scope="row"| April 6, 1976
| [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] || L || 101–92 || RS || 11,243
|-
!scope="row"| October 28, 1976
| [[Buffalo Braves]] || W || 105–112 || RS || 10,608
|-
!scope="row"| January 11, 1977
| [[Houston Rockets]] || W || 101–105 || RS || 10,011
|-
!scope="row"| February 15, 1977
| [[Detroit Pistons]] || W || 99–109 || RS || 9,879
|-
!scope="row"| March 1, 1977
| [[Golden State Warriors]] || L || 101–94 || RS || 11,273
|-
!scope="row"| March 30, 1977
| [[Chicago Bulls]] || W || 88–90 || RS || 11,089
|-
!scope="row"| April 9, 1977
| [[San Antonio Spurs]] || W || 105–120 || RS || 10,859
|-
!scope="row"| October 25, 1977
| Atlanta Hawks || W || 103–110 || RS || 6,590
|-
!scope="row"| December 13, 1977
| [[New Jersey Nets]] || W || 108–122 || RS || 5,518
|-
!scope="row"| January 5, 1978
| [[Phoenix Suns]] || L || 121–111 || RS || 10,019
|-
!scope="row"| February 26, 1980
| Atlanta Hawks || W || 97–108 || RS || 15,622
|-
!scope="row"| March 18, 1980
| [[Indiana Pacers]] || W || 102–114 || RS || 15,622
|-
!scope="row"| October 23, 1980
| [[New York Knicks]] || L || 109–107 || RS || 12,941
|-
!scope="row"| November 9, 1980
| Chicago Bulls || W || 105–111 || RS || 8,627
|-
!scope="row"| December 7, 1980
| [[Washington Bullets]] || L || 113–103 || RS || 11,430
|-
!scope="row"| January 19, 1981
| Detroit Pistons || W || 90–92 || RS || 9,941
|-
!scope="row"| March 13, 1981
| Indiana Pacers || L || 101–94 || RS || 15,622
|-
!scope="row"| November 13, 1981
| New Jersey Nets || W || 97–11 || RS || 11,753
|-
!scope="row"| December 11, 1981
| Atlanta Hawks || W || 86–94 || RS || 13,369
|-
!scope="row"| January 10, 1982
| Detroit Pistons || W || 124–134 || RS || 15,429
|-
!scope="row"| November 30, 1982
| Detroit Pistons || L || 123–116 || RS || 11,762
|-
!scope="row"| January 31, 1983
| Chicago Bulls || W || 104–110 || RS || 12,742
|-
!scope="row"| March 7, 1983
| New Jersey Nets || W || 114–121 || RS || 15,165
|-
!scope="row"| December 9, 1983
| [[Denver Nuggets]] || W || 90–119 || RS || 13,374
|-
!scope="row"| January 20, 1984
| Indiana Pacers || W || 125–132 || RS || 13,134
|-
!scope="row"| March 2, 1984
| Chicago Bulls || W || 100–104 || RS || 14,529
|-
!scope="row"| December 11, 1984
| New Jersey Nets || W || 121–130 || RS || 13,357
|-
!scope="row"| January 29, 1985
| Detroit Pistons || W || 130–131 || RS || 15,685
|-
!scope="row"| February 22, 1985
| Chicago Bulls || W || 105–115 || RS || 15,685
|-
!scope="row"| December 10, 1985
| Atlanta Hawks || W || 110–114 || RS || 14,493
|-
!scope="row"| February 23, 1986
| Indiana Pacers || W || 98–113 || RS || 15,124
|-
!scope="row"| March 18, 1986
| Cleveland Cavaliers || W || 96–126 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| December 2, 1986
| Washington Bullets || L || 117–109 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| February 23, 1987
| New Jersey Nets || W || 103–116 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| March 24, 1987
| Cleveland Cavaliers || W || 88–111 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| November 23, 1987
| Chicago Bulls || L || 107–102 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| February 22, 1988
| New York Knicks || W || 93–95 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| March 11, 1988
| Indiana Pacers || W || 112–122 || RS || 15,134
|-
!scope="row"| November 22, 1988
| Cleveland Cavaliers || L || 114–102 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| February 24, 1989
| [[Milwaukee Bucks]] || W || 112–125 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| March 13, 1989
| New Jersey Nets || W || 91–114 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| November 14, 1989
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]] || W || 94–96 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| February 6, 1990
| Milwaukee Bucks || L || 119–106 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| March 9, 1990
| Washington Bullets || L || 115–108 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| November 26, 1990
| [[Miami Heat]] || W || 101–118 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| February 22, 1991
| New Jersey Nets || W || 99–111 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| March 4, 1991
| Indiana Pacers || W || 101–126 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| November 25, 1991
| Washington Bullets || W || 108–121 || RS || 14,678
|-
!scope="row"| February 21, 1992
| [[Charlotte Hornets]] || W || 110–113 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| March 13, 1992
| New Jersey Nets || L || 110–108 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| November 23, 1992
| Atlanta Hawks || L || 101–97 || RS || 13,299
|-
!scope="row"| February 9, 1993
| Milwaukee Bucks || W || 92–104 || RS || 14,137
|-
!scope="row"| March 28, 1993
| Washington Bullets || W || 113–114 || RS || 15,239
|-
!scope="row"| November 22, 1993
| Indiana Pacers || L || 102–71 || RS || 13,200
|-
!scope="row"| February 17, 1994
| New Jersey Nets || L || 117–98 || RS || 12,588
|-
!scope="row"| March 27, 1994
| Philadelphia 76ers || W || 122–124 || RS || 13,259
|-
!scope="row"| November 22, 1994
| Milwaukee Bucks || L || 116–94 || RS || 12,829
|-
!scope="row"| February 23, 1995
| [[Orlando Magic]] || W || 117–119 || RS || 15,242
|-
!scope="row"| April 15, 1995
| Detroit Pistons || W || 104–129 || RS || 12,979
|-
!scope="row"| October 14, 2009
| [[Toronto Raptors]] || W || 90–106 || [[Preseason|PS]] || 10,117
|-
!scope="row"| October 16, 2010
| New York Knicks || W || 84–97 || PS || 15,138
|-
!scope="row"| October 13, 2012
| New York Knicks || L || 98–95 || PS || 14,218
|-
!scope="row"| October 8, 2014
| New York Knicks || W || 86–106 || PS || 8,462
|}

=== International Women's basketball games ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Opponent
!scope="col"| Result
!scope="col"| Home
!scope="col"| Game Type
!scope="col"| Attendance
|-
| January 27, 2020
| '''[[United States women's national basketball team|United States]]''' {{flagicon|USA}} || 79–64 || [[2019–20 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn Huskies]] || Exhibition || 13,919
|}

=== International hockey games ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Away
!scope="col"| Score
!scope="col"| Home
!scope="col"| Attendance
|-
!scope="row"| December 27, 1976
| {{ih-rt|URS}} || 2–5 || {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[New England Whalers]]''' || —
|-
!scope="row"| [[1987 Canada Cup|August 28, 1987]]
| {{ih-rt|FIN}} || 1–4 || '''{{ih|USA}}''' || 8,508
|-
!scope="row"| [[1987 Canada Cup|September 4, 1987]]
| '''{{ih-rt|URS}}''' || 5–1 || {{ih|USA}} || 14,838
|-
!scope="row"| January 7, 1989
| '''[[HC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]]''' {{flagicon|URS}} || 6–3 || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Hartford Whalers]] || —
|-
!scope="row"| December 27, 1989
| [[Krylya Sovetov Moscow]] {{flagicon|URS}} || 3–4 (OT) || {{flagicon|USA}} '''Hartford Whalers''' || —
|-
!scope="row"| January 3, 1991
| [[HC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] {{flagicon|URS}} || 0–0 || {{flagicon|USA}} Hartford Whalers || —
|-
!scope="row"| December 14, 2019
| {{ihw-rt|CAN}} || 1–4 || '''{{ihw|USA}}''' || 7,126 <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-womens-hockey-usa-canada-rivalry-series-1215-20191215-55y45lo5knbttjoi2roimdaudi-story.html |title=U.S. Women's hockey beats Canada 4–1 in first game of the Rivalry Series in Hartford |first=Lori |last=Riley |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=December 15, 2019 |access-date=July 29, 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|}

===UConn Huskies===
The PeoplesBank Arena serves as the second home for the University of Connecticut's men's and women's basketball programs. At the start of the 2014–15 season the UConn men's ice hockey program moved to the XL Center as a condition of its joining Hockey East.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8082157/connecticut-huskies-accept-membership-hockey-east|title=Connecticut joins Hockey East |date=June 21, 2012 |agency=Associated Press |website=ESPN News |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref> In September 2018, the UConn Board of Trustees approved a plan to build a new 2,500-seat arena in Storrs with the option to expand to 3,500 seats if necessary. Though Hockey East requires arenas to hold at least 4,000, UConn received a waiver for the project since the expectation is for the Huskies' men's hockey program to continue to play some of its games at the XL Center in Hartford.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theuconnblog.com/2020/9/22/21450996/uconn-huskies-mens-hockey-new-arena-to-hold-2700-fans-construction-slated-to-begin-in-april-2021 |title=UConn hockey's future home to seat 2,700 fans; construction starting in April 2021 |date=September 22, 2020 |first=Daniel |last=Connelly |website=The UConn Blog |access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:2-1-25XLC.jpg|thumb|Record Breaking Crowd During UConn Hockey game vs Providence on February 1, 2025]]

====UConn Hockey attendance records====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Opponent
!scope="col"| Result
!scope="col"| Attendance
|-
!February 1, 2025
|#7 [[Providence Friars men's ice hockey|Providence]]
|'''L''' 6–3
|11,781<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/stats/2024-25/providence/boxscore/24406|title=Men's Ice Hockey vs Providence on 2/1/2025 - Box Score|website=University of Connecticut Athletics}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| February 9, 2019
|[[Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey|Merrimack]] || '''W''' 5–0 || 8,211<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2019/2/9/mens-ice-hockey-evans-scores-twice-as-huskies-shutout-merrimack-5-0.aspx |title=Evans Scores Twice as Huskies Shutout Merrimack, 5–0 |website=UConn Huskies |date=February 9, 2019 |access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| November 15, 2014
|#3 [[Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey|Boston College]] || '''W''' 1–0 || 8,089<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/11/5/Huskies_Knock_Off_3_Boston_College_1_0_in_Front_of_XL_Sellout_Crowd.aspx|title=Huskies Knock Off #3 Boston College, 1–0 in Front of XL Sellout Crowd |website=UConn Huskies |date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| November 22, 2014
|#3 [[Boston University men's ice hockey|Boston University]] || '''L''' 2–5 || 7,712
|-
!scope="row"| February 16, 2018
|#20 [[Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey|Boston University]] || '''W''' 5–4<sup>OT</sup> || 7,372<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2018/2/16/Huskies_Win_Seventh_Straight_on_Letunov_s_OT_Winner.aspx |title=Huskies Win Seventh-Straight on Letunov's OT Winner |website=UConn Huskies |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref>
|}

==Exhibition center==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2019}}
The Exhibition Center consists of a {{convert|68855|sqft|m2|0|adj=on}} exhibit hall, a {{convert|16080|sqft|m2|0|adj=on}} assembly hall that can divide into two meeting rooms, plus seven meeting rooms totaling {{convert|7390|sqft|m2|0}} and two lobbies totaling {{convert|6100|sqft|m2|-1}}. It is used for trade shows, conventions, banquets, meetings and other events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PeoplesBank Arena |url=https://www.ctmeetings.org/listing/peoplesbank-arena/679/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.ctmeetings.org |language=en-us}}</ref>

The surrounding shopping mall was demolished in 2004 and was replaced by street-level retail shops and a 36-story residential tower named Hartford 21 which opened in 2006 and is the tallest residential tower between New York City and Boston.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower to Rise in Mall's Place |url=https://www.courant.com/2004/03/04/tower-to-rise-in-malls-place/ |date=March 4, 2004 |newspaper=Hartford Courant |access-date=July 29, 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
The arena is serviced by [[CT Transit Hartford|CT Transit]] local city routes 60, 62, 64, 66, 72, 74, and 76; [[CT Fastrak]] routes 101, 102, and 128; and CT Transit express routes 902, 909, 923, and 928.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cttransit.com/sites/default/files/maps/division/downtown_Hartford.pdf|title=Downtown Hartford map}}</ref>

It is also a ten minute walk from [[Hartford Union Station]], allowing for train service from [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] or [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
* [[List of convention centers in the United States]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.xlcenter.com/ XL Center]

{{S-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|et}}}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Hartford Whalers|New England / Hartford Whalers]]
 | years = 1974–1978<br>1980–1997
 | before = [[Boston Garden]]<br>[[MassMutual Center|Springfield Civic Center]]
 | after = [[MassMutual Center|Springfield Civic Center]]<br>[[Greensboro Coliseum]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the New England Sea Wolves
 | years = 1999–2000
 | before = [[Madison Square Garden]]
 | after = [[Scotiabank Arena|Air Canada Centre]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Host of [[NHL All-Star Game]]
 | years = 1986
 | before = [[Scotiabank Saddledome|Olympic Saddledome]]
 | after = [[St. Louis Arena]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Hartford Wolf Pack]]/Connecticut Whale
 | years = 1997–present
 | before = [[Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena]]
 | after = Current Arena
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Host of [[WrestleMania]]
 | years = [[WrestleMania XI|1995]]
 | before = [[Madison Square Garden]]
 | after = [[Honda Center|Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim]]
}}
{{end}}

{{University of Connecticut}}
{{UConn Huskies men's basketball navbox}}
{{UConn Huskies women's basketball navbox}}
{{UConn Huskies men's ice hockey navbox}}
{{Boston Celtics}}
{{Hartford Whalers}}
{{Hartford Wolf Pack}}
{{Connecticut Coyotes}}
{{Toronto Phantoms}}
{{AHL Arenas}}
{{Hockey East}}
{{Big East Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{WorldCupofHockey}}
{{Music venues of Connecticut}}
{{Hartford, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut NCAA Division I college basketball venue navbox}}
{{Former NBA arenas}}
{{Former NHL arenas}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:PeoplesBank Arena}}
[[Category:1975 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:American Hockey League venues]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Boston Celtics]]
[[Category:Collapsed buildings and structures in the United States]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Convention centers in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Defunct National Hockey League venues]]
[[Category:Former NBA venues]]
[[Category:Gymnastics venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Hartford Whalers]]
[[Category:Hartford Wolf Pack]]
[[Category:Indoor soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Music venues in Connecticut]]
[[Category:New England Blizzard]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1975]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Hartford County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Hartford, Connecticut|Civic Center]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hartford, Connecticut]]
[[Category:UConn Huskies basketball venues]]
[[Category:World Hockey Association venues]]