{{Short description|Arena in New Jersey, United States}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = CURE Insurance Arena | image = 200px<br>300px | nickname = | address = 81 Hamilton Avenue | location = Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | broke_ground = December 2, 1997<ref>{{cite news |title=In the Region/New Jersey; 2d Anchor Begun in Trenton's Revitalization Plan|first=Rachelle|last=Garbarine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/14/realestate/in-the-region-new-jersey-2d-anchor-begun-in-trenton-s-revitalization-plan.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 14, 1997|access-date=November 11, 2011}}</ref> | built = | opened = October 6, 1999 | owner = Mercer County Improvement Authority<ref>{{cite web |title=Ownership & Management|url=http://www.sunnationalbankcenter.com/ownership-management.php|publisher=Sun National Bank Center|access-date=November 22, 2009}}</ref> | operator = Oak View Group | construction_cost = $53 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|53000000|1999}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | architect = Sink Combs Dethlefs<br>Vitetta Group | project_manager = | structural_engineer = Geiger Engineers<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephen P. Emery|url=http://www.geigerengineers.com/resume.cfm?RecordID=7|publisher=Geiger Engineers|access-date=November 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220234314/http://www.geigerengineers.com/resume.cfm?RecordID=7|archive-date=December 20, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> | services_engineer = French & Parrello Associates, P.A.<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards|url=http://fpaengineers.com/about-us/awards/|publisher=French & Parrello Associates|access-date=November 11, 2011}}</ref> | general_contractor = Gilbane Building Company<ref>{{cite news |title=Globe Facility Services To Run Mercer Arena|first=Lauren|last=Jaeger|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4573960-1.html|newspaper=AllBusiness|date=July 6, 1998|access-date=November 11, 2011}}</ref> | former_names = Sovereign Bank Arena <br>(1999–2009)<br>Sun National Bank Center<br>(2009–2017) | tenants = Trenton Titans/Devils (ECHL) (1999–2013)<br>Trenton Shooting Stars (IBL) (1999–2001)<br>Trenton Lightning (IPFL) (2001) <br>Philadelphia Passion (LFL) (2009–2011)<br>Trenton Steel (SIFL) (2011)<br> Trenton Freedom (PIFL) (2014–2015)<br>Jersey Flight (AAL/NAL) (2018–2021) <br> TCNJ Lions (ACHA) (2021–2022)<br>Trenton Terror (PBLA) (2022–2023)<br>Trenton Ironhawks (ECHL) (2026–future) | seating_capacity = Basketball: 8,600<br>Ice hockey: 7,605<br>Concerts: 10,500 | public_transit = {{rint|rail}} {{rint|njt}} '''River Line'''<br/>at Hamilton Avenue | website = {{url|cureinsurancearena.com}} }} The '''CURE Insurance Arena''' is a multipurpose arena in Trenton, New Jersey. It hosts events including shows, sporting events and concerts.
The arena seats 7,605 for hockey and other ice events, 8,600 for basketball and up to 10,500 for concerts, family shows, and other events which makes it the largest arena in Central New Jersey. The arena is located next to, and served by, the Hamilton Avenue station on NJ Transit's River Line and New Jersey Route 129. It is managed by Oak View Group.
==History and events== The arena opened as '''Sovereign Bank Arena''' on October 6, 1999, with a World Wrestling Federation event. On November 13, 2009, Sun National Bank signed a naming-rights deal for seven years for $2.1 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arena Naming Deal Put at $2.1M|first=Meir|last=Rinde|url=http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1258526707280500.xml&coll=5|newspaper=The Times (Trenton)|date=November 18, 2009|access-date=February 12, 2013}}</ref> Since the arena opened, it has hosted over 1200 events with over 4 million guests attending and has sold-out shows by Bruce Springsteen, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Cher, Elton John, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber among others.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Info|url=http://www.sunnationalbankcenter.com/general-info.php|publisher=Sun National Bank Center|access-date=November 22, 2009}}</ref> Musical events have dwindled in the 2010s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2019/11/a-forgotten-nj-arena-just-hosted-a-major-rock-concert-let-this-be-a-trend.html|title=A forgotten N.J. arena just hosted a major rock concert. Let this be a trend!|website=nj.com|date=November 11, 2019|last=Oliver|first=Bobby|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>
CURE Insurance Arena hosted the last regular season games of the premier 2018 JBA season.
===Professional Box Lacrosse=== The Trenton Terror of the Professional Box Lacrosse Association is part of the eight-team inaugural season. The Terror held their first game on December 30, 2022, against the New England Chowderheads, in which they lost 15–16 in overtime.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pbla.com/teams/trenton-terror/ | title=Trenton Terror • PBLA }}</ref>
===Men's basketball=== The 2000 and 2001 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournaments were held there, as was the 2003 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
The arena also hosted a game between Oak Hill Academy and Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School, which featured a matchup between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN.
===Women's college basketball=== In 2006, the arena hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. In 2009, the arena hosted the Trenton Regional of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament where the University of Connecticut went to the Women's Final Four.
===Men's club hockey=== In 2021, The College of New Jersey's club ice hockey program announced it would play five home games at the arena during the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=2021/22 SEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED! {{!}} The College of New Jersey Lions |url=http://tcnj.pointstreaksites.com/view/njlions/tcnj-ice-hockey-news/news_537252 |website=tcnj.pointstreaksites.com |access-date=8 September 2021 |date=21 August 2021}}</ref> Later on this increased with the non-varsity team using the arena as a home venue to finish the regular season. As defending conference champions, the Lions hosted the 2022 Colonial Cup Playoffs at the arena and reached the championship game before falling to the top seeded University of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Battista |first1=Michael |title=COLONIAL CUP RECAP |url=https://cschc.acha.hockeytech.com/colonial-cup-recap |website=cschc.acha.hockeytech.com |access-date=17 March 2022 |language=en |date=23 February 2022}}</ref> ECHL The Trenton Titans/ Devils played here from 1999-2013, when the franchise folded; in early 2026, however, it was announced that the league would return to Trenton, with the Utah Grizzlies moving to the city, initially, announced as being affiliated with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, before that organization announced the New Mexico Goatheads as its new affiliate in the ECHL, reopening the possibility of either the New Jersey Devils/Philadelphia Flyers affiliating with the new team.
===Professional wrestling=== On August 10, 2008, the arena hosted Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA) 8th Hard Justice event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=25690|title=TNA Hard Justice 2008|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref>
On July 21, 2023, the arena hosted Ring of Honor's 20th Death Before Dishonor event.<ref>{{cite web|last=Renner|first=Ethan|title=ROH reveals date for Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/ring-of-honor/roh-reveals-date-for-death-before-dishonor-pay-per-view|website=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|date=June 2, 2023|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603171530/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/ring-of-honor/roh-reveals-date-for-death-before-dishonor-pay-per-view|archive-date=June 3, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Cain A.|title=AEW announces the date and location for ROH Death Before Dishonor 2023|url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2023/6/2/23747612/aew-announces-date-location-roh-death-before-dishonor-2023-ppv-trenton-new-jersey-july-21-shibata|website=Cageside Seats|date=June 2, 2023|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603051216/https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2023/6/2/23747612/aew-announces-date-location-roh-death-before-dishonor-2023-ppv-trenton-new-jersey-july-21-shibata|archive-date=June 3, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
===College wrestling=== On March 7–8, 2025, the arena hosted the 2025 MAC Wrestling Championships.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wrestling |first1=MAC |title=The 2025 MAC Wrestling Championship Begins Today! |url=https://getsomemaction.com/news/2025/3/6/the-2025-mac-wrestling-championship-begins-today.aspx|website=www.getsomemaction.com/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=en |date=7 March 2025}}</ref>
==See also== {{portal|New Jersey}}
* List of New Jersey music venues by capacity
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Notelist}} ==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.cureinsurancearena.com}} * [https://rinkatlas.com/rinks/49 RinkAtlas listing for CURE Insurance Arena]
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{{s-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|et}}}} {{Succession box | title = Host of Hard Justice | years = 2008 | before = TNA Impact! Zone | after = TNA Impact! Zone }} {{end}} {{NAL}} {{NewYorksportsvenues}} {{LFL Venues|state=collapsed}} {{PLL|state=collapsed}} {{Trenton, New Jersey|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|40|12|46|N|74|45|27.22|W|type:landmark_scale:1000|display=title}}
Category:1999 establishments in New Jersey Category:Buildings and structures in Trenton, New Jersey Category:College basketball venues in New Jersey Category:College ice hockey venues in the United States Category:Ice hockey venues in New Jersey Category:Indoor lacrosse venues in the United States Category:Basketball venues in New Jersey Category:Sports in Trenton, New Jersey Category:Tourist attractions in Trenton, New Jersey Category:Sports venues completed in 1999 Category:Indoor arenas in New Jersey