A quick look inside the Consol Energy Center …
Opened: August 2010
Cost: $321 million
Seating Capacity: 20,000
Architect: Populous
The Consol Energy Center on Sunday will host its first Ultimate Fighting Championship event, as UFC Live 4 “Marquardt vs. Story” touches down in Pittsburgh. The show, which airs on the Versus network at 9 p.m. ET, will feature the 170-pound debut of former middleweight title contender Nate Marquardt, as he collides with the surging Rick Story in a three-round battle. The rest of the televised lineup offers up a welterweight tilt pairing “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 alum Matt Brown with John Howard and a pair of heavyweight duels, as Patrick Barry meets Cheick Kongo and Christian Morecraft toes the line against the unbeaten Matt Mitrione.
Designed by Populous, the same architectural team responsible for Heinz Field and PNC Park, the Consol Energy Center opened in August at a cost of $321 million. A Paul McCartney concert christened the arena on Aug. 18. The facility features 12 escalators and two 360-degree LED rings encircling the seating bowl; 800 high-definition televisions of all sizes, located throughout the building; and a brew pub on the upper concourse, which overlooks the Pittsburgh skyline. The Consol Energy Center -- which can seat up to 20,000 -- is home to the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Power, of the Arena Football League. It has been selected to host the 2013 NCAA Frozen Four, the semi-finals of college hockey’s national championship tournament.
World Wrestling Entertainment (July 23), the WeddingClickers.com Summer Bridal Show (July 31), Josh Groban (Aug. 3), the American Idol Live tour (Aug. 10) and Foo Fighters (Sept. 23) will follow the UFC into the Consol Energy Center.