Times Union Center, Albany, New York

There are many exciting events that are brought to the Times Union Center Arena, but it is home to the AHL River Rats, Albany Conquest and the Sienna Saints MAAC basketball team. They have hosted NCAA National Championships in hockey and wrestling as well as the Eastern Regional basketball and hockey. There is also the MAAC basketball championship and the ECAC hockey championships which are kicked off by Fan Fests. Concerts, family shows, motocross, ice shows, trade shows and monster truck events are just some of the other spectacles that are presented at the Times Union Center.

The box office is open in the summer until Labor Day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday through Sunday from the box office, but is closed on non event days. After Labor Day the box office is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays. Sunday they are closed on non event days. The box office is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years' Eve, New Year's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day. The box office will be open on these days if there is an event, however.

Times Union Center was formerly named the Pepsi Arena. It was changed in 2007. It is owned by Albany County and operated by SMG Management firm. Depending on the venue the arena can seat from six thousand up to seventeen thousand five hundred visitors. Frank Sinatra was the first performer to grace the arena's stage in 1990. They average about one hundred sixty five events a year.

Other famous people that have performed at the Times Union Center include: the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, U2, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Garth Brooks, Puff Daddy, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, The Dave Matthews Band, Dixie Chicks, Britney Spears, Tina Turner, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Phish, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, The Grateful Dead and the Backstreet Boys. Family shows include the Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live, Barney's Big Surprise, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus and Nickelodeon's Live Tour.

Some of the restaurants that are in the Times Union Center or nearby are Angelo's 677 Prime at 677 Broadway, the Recovery room Sports Grill at 62 New Scotland Ave, Broadway Joe's of Albany at 51 South Pearl Street, Jillians at 59 North Pearl St, Pizzeria Sapienza in the Times Union Center and La Serre Restaurant in downtown Albany just one block from Times Union Center.

Hotels near the Times Union Center are the Crowne Plaza Albany City Center, Clarion Hotel, Howard Johnson Albany Central, Econo Lodge Inn and Suites Downtown, Best Western Sovereign Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Albany Downtown, Regency Inn and Suites, Courtyard by Marriott Albany Airport, Comfort Inn and Suites Albany East Greenbush, Courtyard by Marriott Albany Thruway, Quality Inn Albany Airport, 74 State Street, and Hilton Garden Inn Albany Medical Center.

Times Union Center has a parking garage at the west end of the building. Parking rates are one hundred thirty five dollars monthly, eight dollars daily with event rates varying.