La Crosse Center



The La Crosse Center is a multi-purpose arena in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin, built in 1980. The arena can seat between 5,000 and 7,500, depending on the type of event.

The center is also a convention center. In addition to the arena, which offers 21600 sqft of exhibit space, two locker rooms, and three dressing rooms, there is 14935 sqft North Hall, which can open up to the arena to be used in combination; and a 38740 sqft South Exhibit Hall. All three venues total 75275 sqft of exhibit space. The complex also contains 9432 sqft of space in five meeting rooms, which can be divided into nine meeting rooms.

While both exhibit halls and the arena are used for trade shows, conventions, meetings and banquets, the arena is also used for sporting events, concerts, circuses, ice shows, and other events.

In addition, the center is home to countless exhibits and shows. One noteworthy event is the annual Bi-State Classic high school wrestling tournament. The center holds ten full-size wrestling mats and up to 55 wrestling squads.

The most recent change to the La Crosse Center was a fifty-foot skywalk spanning over Second Street in downtown La Crosse. The skywalk links a five floor parking ramp with the east end of the convention center.

The La Crosse Center is situated less than 300 ft from the banks of the Mississippi River, and Riverside Park in Downtown La Crosse.

Tenants
The La Crosse Skating Sirens began competing at the La Crosse Center in 2009. The Skating Sirens are a nationally "bouting" women's flat-track roller derby team.

It has previously been home to three indoor football teams: The La Crosse River Rats, the La Crosse Spartans and the La Crosse Night Train; and two Continental Basketball Association (CBA) teams: The La Crosse Catbirds and the La Crosse Bobcats. It most recently housed the La Crosse Showtime of the American Basketball Association. The team began playing the 2018–19 season at the La Crosse Center, but had to move from the facility prior to playing any games in 2019.

The center has fielded bids for additional teams in United Indoor Football, the United States Hockey League, and the NBA Development League.