{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky}} {{redirect|BB&T Arena|the arena in Sunrise, Florida|BB&T Center}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Truist Arena | logo_image = Truist Arena logo.svg | logo_size = 100 | image = Northern Kentucky University arena.jpg | caption = Truist Arena, also referred to as "The Bank" | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 15 | coordinates = {{coord|39.032273|-84.458864|type:landmark|display=it}} | former_names = The Bank of Kentucky Center (2008–2015)<br>BB&T Arena (2015–2022) | location = 500 Nunn Drive<br />Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099 | broke_ground = May 20, 2006 | built = | opened = {{start date and age|May 10, 2008}} | closed = | demolished = | owner = Northern Kentucky University | operator = ASM Global | construction_cost = $64 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|64000000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | architect = 360 Architecture<br />GBBN Architects | structural_engineer = THP Limited Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thpltd.com/portfolio/structuralengineering/sports.aspx |title=THP Limited Inc. | Portfolio | Structural Engineering | Sports |website=THP Limited Inc. |access-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909055126/http://www.thpltd.com/Portfolio/structuralengineering/sports.aspx |archive-date=September 9, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | general_contractor = Turner Construction<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://arenadigest.com/in-the-arena/visits/bank-of-kentucky-center-northern-kentucky-norsemen |title=Bank of Kentucky Center / Northern Kentucky Norsemen | Visits | Arena Digest |website=Arena Digest |access-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225011452/http://arenadigest.com/in-the-arena/visits/bank-of-kentucky-center-northern-kentucky-norsemen |archive-date=December 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | tenants = Northern Kentucky Norse (NCAA) 2008–present<br>Northern Kentucky River Monsters (UIFL/CIFL) 2011, 2014<br>Black-n-Bluegrass RollerGirls (WFTDA) 2012–2013<br>Cincinnati Bearcats (NCAA) 2017–2018<br>Kentucky Barrels (AF1) 2026–present | seating_capacity = 8,427 (basketball)<br />9,400 (concerts)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nkunorse.com/facilities/truist-arena/25 |title=Truist Arena |website=Northern Kentucky University Athletics |publisher=Northern Kentucky University |access-date=June 15, 2025}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://thetruistarena.com/|thetruistarena.com}} }}
'''Truist Arena''', formerly '''The Bank of Kentucky Center''' and '''BB&T Arena''', is a 9,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. The arena was topped off on June 21, 2007, and the first event held there was NKU's graduation ceremony on May 10, 2008. A grand opening ceremony was held on September 22, 2008.
The Northern Kentucky Norse are the main tenants,<ref>{{cite web |title=NKY.com |access-date=July 11, 2007 |url=http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070622/NEWS0103/706220407}}{{dead link|date=September 2025}}</ref> but many outside events are booked at the center. Among the first were country music star Carrie Underwood, comedian Jeff Dunham, and the cast of the reality television show ''So You Think You Can Dance'' as well as Cirque du Soleil, and the ''Walking With Dinosaurs'' live production. It hosted the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament in 2012.<ref name="NCAA">{{cite press release |url=https://nkunorse.com/news/2010/6/11/MBB_0611103213.aspx |title=NCAA selects NKU as host for 2012 and 2013 Division II Elite Eight for men's basketball |website=Northern Kentucky University Athletics |publisher=Northern Kentucky University |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> It was again set to host the Division II 2013 Elite Eight,<ref name="NCAA" /> but the NCAA moved the event to Freedom Hall in Louisville as NKU joined Division I (the NCAA would later go further by only holding the Elite Eight and Final Four matchups in Louisville; the Division II championship game was moved to Atlanta, Georgia's State Farm Arena with the Division III championship game as part of the celebration of 75 years of the men's Division I tournament, the Final Four of which was held in the Georgia Dome).<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-08-22/division-ii-elite-eight-be-played-louisvilles-freedom-hall-20 |title=Division II Elite Eight to be played at Louisville's Freedom Hall in 2013 |publisher=NCAA |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129154653/http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-08-22/division-ii-elite-eight-be-played-louisvilles-freedom-hall-20 |archive-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> On May 10, 2011, The Bank of Kentucky Center hosted WWE live. Other artists/performers that have visited the arena include Alan Jackson with Jana Kramer, Barry Manilow, Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy, and Larry The Cable Guy, Blake Shelton, Bob Dylan, Dane Cook, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Jay-Z, REO Speedwagon, and Styx among others.
The first basketball event at the arena saw the NKU men's and women's basketball teams play Louisville on November 8, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=NKU ticket information |url=http://www.nku.edu/~athletics/WBasketball/2007-08/releases/2008-09%20ticket%20info.html |website=Northern Kentucky University Athletics |publisher=Northern Kentucky University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731070912/http://www.nku.edu/~athletics/WBasketball/2007-08/releases/2008-09%20ticket%20info.html |archive-date=July 31, 2008}}</ref>
The arena hosted the KHSAA Girls' Sweet Sixteen in high school basketball from 2016 through 2018, after which the event moved to Rupp Arena in Lexington.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://khsaa.org/051214-board-of-control-approves-future-championship-sites-football-alignment/ |title=Board of Control Approves Future Championship Sites, Football Alignment |publisher=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |date=May 12, 2014 |access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://khsaa.org/051017-board-of-control-addresses-championship-sites-for-football-girls-basketball-dance/ |title=Board of Control Addresses Championship Sites for Football, Girls' Basketball, Dance |publisher=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |date=May 10, 2017 |access-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref>
==Sponsorship== The Bank of Kentucky agreed to cover 10% of the cost of the arena, up to $6 million, in exchange for naming rights. It will also get a luxury suite, access to premium tickets and free use of the facility rent free for one special event each year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kypost.com/2005/02/19/kyweekreview021905.html |title=Battles over taxes on several fronts |first=Dan |last=Hassert |work=The Kentucky Post |publisher=E. W. Scripps Company |date=February 19, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060228022106/http://www.kypost.com/2005/02/19/kyweekreview021905.html |archive-date=February 28, 2006}}</ref>
In 2015, the name of the arena was changed to the BB&T Arena after BB&T Corp. bought out The Bank of Kentucky. In 2020, BB&T merged with SunTrust, with the merged company renaming itself Truist. However, the arena continued to bear the BB&T name because Truist did not start rebranding its Kentucky locations with the new corporate name until late 2021. The Truist name was adopted for the arena shortly after the 2021–22 basketball season, taking effect on April 5, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/bb-t-arena-northern-kentucky-truist-arena/39640994# |title=Northern Kentucky's BB&T Arena changes name to Truist Arena |publisher=WLWT |location=Cincinnati |date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
==Tenants== Beginning in spring of 2011, Truist Arena was home to the Northern Kentucky River Monsters of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. After the season, the River Monsters agreed to part ways with the UIFL. The UIFL still had rights to place a team in the arena, so there will be an expansion team placed there, the Kentucky Monsters.
Truist Arena has also played host to the Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Girls since 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Erpenbeck |first1=Kevin |title=Roller derby takes over BOKC |url=https://www.thenortherner.com/sports/2011/12/07/roller-derby-takes-over-bokc/ |newspaper=The Northerner |access-date=September 13, 2017 |date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> The home dates for the league in 2012 were: May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 22, and October 20.
The Cincinnati Bearcats from the University of Cincinnati played their home games at what was then BB&T Arena during the 2017–18 season while Fifth Third Arena underwent renovations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wcpo.com/sports/college-sports/university-of-cincinnati-sports/uc-mens-basketball-to-play-at-bbt-arena-in-2017-18-season |title=Bearcats to play at BB&T Arena in 2017–18 season |date=February 10, 2017 |publisher=WCPO-TV}}</ref>
As of 2026, the arena will host the Arena Football One's Kentucky Barrels.
==See also== * List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball navbox}} {{Northern Kentucky Norse women's basketball navbox}} {{Horizon League basketball venue navbox}} {{Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball navbox}} {{Kentucky college basketball venues}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Campbell County, Kentucky Category:Indoor arenas in Kentucky Category:College basketball venues in Kentucky Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball Category:Cincinnati Bearcats sports venues Category:Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball Category:Northern Kentucky Norse women's basketball Category:Tourist attractions in Campbell County, Kentucky Category:2008 establishments in Kentucky Category:Sports venues completed in 2008