No. 26 JQH Arena

With a $67 million price tag, JQH Arena opened in November 2008, in time for the Missouri State Bears’ first basketball game of the season Nov. 22 against the University of Arkansas. The arena, with seating for 11,000, is one of John Q. Hammons’ endeavors. The inaugural event at “The Q” was a concert Nov. 13 to a sold-out crowd by rock band The Eagles.

Hammons donated $25 million to fund the project. The gift was announced Feb. 10, 2006, with plans to begin construction in the fall of 2006. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Dec. 21, 2006.  

The arena’s final price tag was driven up to $30 million due to increased construction costs. After the completion, MSU President Mike Nietzel announced the final costs of the project were completed just shy of $1 million under the expected budget.

Great Southern Bank committed a gift to the university after the arena announcement for the purchase of the scoreboard for JQH Arena, which had an estimated cost between $1.5 million and $1.8 million.

In addition to university athletics and The Eagles, Professional Bull Riding and Carrie Underwood have performed in the arena, and Jason Aldean, a country singer, is scheduled to perform this October.

See the full list of pivotal points chosen by the Springfield Business Journal here.
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