Nutter Center

This article is about the arena at Wright State University. For the football facility at the University of Kentucky, see E.J. Nutter Training Facility.

The Nutter Center is a multi-purpose arena located at Wright State University, in Fairborn, Ohio.^[2][3] It mainly serves as the home court of the Wright State Raiders men's and women's basketball teams. It is also regularly used as a music venue for touring concerts^[4][5] and shows and for area high school graduation ceremonies.

Nutter Center

Full name	Wright State University Nutter Center
Former names	Ervin J. Nutter Center (1990–2011)
Address	3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Location	Fairborn, Ohio, U.S.
Coordinates	39°46′55″N 84°3′9″W
Owner	Wright State University
Capacity	10,400 Configurations Concerts: 11,200 Half house: up to 7,500 Basketball: 9,500
Field size	Ice surface: 200 x 85 ft (61 x 26 m)
Surface	Hardwood/Ice
Construction
Broke ground	1988
Opened	December 1, 1990
Construction cost	US$34.5 million ($91.7 million in 2024 dollars[1])
Architect	HOK Sport
Structural engineer	KZF Design
Tenants
Wright State Raiders (NCAA) Men's basketball 1990–present Women's basketball 1990–present Dayton Wings (WBL) 1991–1992 Dayton Bombers (ECHL) 1996–2009 Dayton Warbirds (NIFL) 2005 Dayton Bulldogs (NIFL) 2006
Website
nuttercenter.com

History

A local businessman and inventor, Ervin J. Nutter, donated $1.5 million to Wright State University in 1986. Funds from both the state of Ohio and the university contributed an additional $8 million to construction efforts which began in 1988. Work was completed twenty months later and on December 1, 1990, the Nutter Center held its first official event.^[6][7]

Events

Sports

• The first ever WWE King of the Ring event in 1993
• 2002 Kelly Cup Finals (games 3 and 4)
• 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 & 2007 Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now Horizon League) men's basketball tournament.
• 2014 Horizon League championship game
• The Harlem Globetrotters have performed at the Nutter Center every New Year's Eve since at least 2005.^{[8][9][10][11]}

^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}

Other

Gloria Estefan played the Nutter Center on her comeback “Into The Light World Tour” on August 19, 1991.

Dire Straits played on their final tour, the ‘On Every Street’ tour. They played the Nutter Center on February 21, 1992.

• The band Phish played a concert at the venue on December 7, 1997, which was released in its entirety on their 2008 live album Live Phish 12.07.97.^[19] Phish also played at the venue in 1995, 2017, & 2023.^[20]
• Barack Obama's "Keeping America’s Promise" rally, on Monday, February 25, 2008.
• “Road to the Convention Rally” on August 29, 2008, at which time Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, was announced as presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain's vice-presidential candidate, or running mate.
• On May 17–18, 2013, the Nutter Center hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2013 Science Olympiad National Tournament.
• July 22, 2015, the band Eagles performed one of their last stops on their History of the Eagles Tour.
• The Nutter Center was originally scheduled to host the first 2016 presidential debate but the venue was changed due to security and financial concerns.^[21]
• The Nutter Center is frequently used as a competition venue for the Winter Guard International indoor percussion, color guard, and winds championship.
• On May 19–20, 2017, the Nutter Center hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2017 Science Olympiad National Tournament.
• On November 16, 2022, touring giant Dave Matthews Band played the arena.^[22]

See also

• E.J. Nutter Training Facility - a college football training facility at the University of Kentucky also named after Ervin J. Nutter
• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas