The Sames Auto Arena (formerly known as the Laredo Entertainment Center and Laredo Energy Arena) is a multi-purpose arena, in Laredo, Texas. It is located to Bob Bullock Loop 20, on the northeastern side of Laredo. Within the Sames Auto Arena complex, there are several hotels within a walking distance. The Laredo International Airport is also nearby.[2]

Sames Auto Arena

Exterior of venue (c.2008)
Former names	Laredo Arena (planning/construction) Laredo Entertainment Center (2002–10) Laredo Energy Arena (2010–18)
Address	6700 Arena Blvd Laredo, TX 78041-1949
Owner	City of Laredo
Operator	SMG
Capacity	8,065
Construction
Broke ground	June 28, 2001
Opened	October 17, 2002
Construction cost	$36.5 million ($55.9 million in 2021 dollars[1])
Architect	Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Frank Architects Inc.
General contractor	Beers Construction Reed Construction
Tenants
Laredo Bucks (CHL) (2002–12) Laredo Law (af2) (2004) Laredo Lobos (IFL/af2) (2006–07) Laredo Rattlesnakes (LSFL) (2012–13) Laredo Bucks (USACHL) (2018)
Website
Venue Website

History

The City of Laredo funded the $36.5 million project through a one-quarter percent sales tax increase that was approved by Laredo voters on August 12, 2000, with the facility's groundbreaking taking place in June 2001. The facility opened in October 2002. With 32,000 square feet (3,000 m²) of continuous open floor space, the Sames Auto Arena has the largest indoor convention space in South Texas. The 178,000 square foot facility has a seating capacity that can be expanded up to 9,622 for concerts, with 14 luxury suites, six meeting rooms and a private club.

The facility's management company, SMG, oversees all aspects of the arena including operations, concessions, scheduling, ticketing, and marketing. The arena sits on 25 acres (10 ha) at Jacaman Road and Loop 20 – property that Arena Ventures donated to the City of Laredo. Arena Ventures owns 35 additional acres around the site that is currently being developed with hotels and office parks, specialized retail stores and restaurants, and a $1.5 million water feature with fountains, a boardwalk and quarter-mile jogging track.

In 2010, the previously-named Laredo Entertainment Center[3] was renamed the Laredo Energy Arena after Laredo Energy purchased the venue's naming rights.[4] Eight years later, Sames Auto Group purchased the naming rights to the arena and the venue is now known as the Sames Auto Arena.[5]

Naming history

• Laredo Entertainment Center (October 17, 2002—March 16, 2010)
• Laredo Energy Arena (March 17, 2010—July 16, 2018)
• Sames Auto Arena (July 17, 2018—present)

Gallery

• 
  Staind performing at the LEC
• 
  Chevelle performing at the LEC
• 
  Pete Loeffler of Chevelle performing at the Carnival of Madness tour 2012
• 
  Amy Lee of Evanescence
• 
  Reik "Peligro" tour
• 
  Daughtry live in 2012
• 
  3 Doors Down
• 
  Phoebe Marie performing at the Laredo Energy Arena for the Sister Cities Festival
• 
  Ricardo Arjona performing in the LEC
• 
  John B. Alexander High School 2009 Graduation in the LEC

References