Honda Center

Building and Modernizing a Major Southern California Arena

The Honda Center in Anaheim, California, originally known as the Anaheim Arena, was completed in 1993 at an approximate cost of $123 million.

The arena was developed through a combination of public and private financing, including a $30 million contribution from the City of Anaheim, with the remainder secured through private investors led by the Walt Disney Company.

At the time of its opening, the arena ranked among the largest indoor venues in the United States, with seating for approximately 17,174 hockey spectators and as many as 18,900 attendees for concerts and other events.

Decades later, maintaining a major entertainment venue required another substantial construction investment.

The 2019 Anaheim Honda Center Upgrade Project

The Anaheim Honda Center Upgrade Project was undertaken to modernize the arena, improve its functionality, and enhance the experience of fans and visitors.

The approximately $120 million renovation and expansion included significant improvements throughout the facility, including:

• New and upgraded seating

• Premium hospitality areas

• A new team store

• Improved food and beverage facilities

• Technology and Wi-Fi upgrades

• Enhanced accessibility features

• A new outdoor plaza and gathering space

The improvements extended beyond the arena itself. The outdoor plaza was designed to provide a gathering place for fans before and after events, further integrating the venue into the surrounding entertainment district.

Public and Private Investment

Funding for the upgrade combined private investment, including contributions associated with the Anaheim Ducks, with public financing that included a $25 million loan from the City of Anaheim.

The project was completed in 2019, delivering modernized facilities and amenities while helping the arena continue to attract sporting events, concerts, and visitors to Anaheim.

Construction in an Operating Entertainment Venue

Renovating an established arena presents challenges considerably different from constructing on an undeveloped site.

Major improvements must account for existing structural and building systems, public accessibility, technology, life-safety requirements, hospitality operations, and the demands of an active event schedule.

Projects of this scale require extensive coordination among owners, contractors, designers, engineers, public entities, tenants, and specialty trades. When disputes occur, resolving them effectively requires an understanding of both the contractual relationships and the technical realities of construction.

Construction Lawyers provides sophisticated construction dispute-resolution experience informed by decades of work at the intersection of law, engineering, and major project delivery.