Stabler Arena 4.6

Stabler Arena is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Owned and operated by Lehigh University, it is located on the school's Goodman Campus. It was named for Donald B. Stabler, a 1930 Lehigh graduate, founder of Stabler Companies Inc., and a member of the university's Board of Trustees for over 30 years. He and his wife, Dorothy, were the primary donors for the facility. The arena officially opened with Lehigh's Commencement Exercises on May 27, 1979. Its first public event was Holiday on Ice in November later that same year.AthleticsStabler Arena is home to the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks basketball teams, who play in college basketball's Patriot League. The conference has held portions of its men's tournament there three times. From 2011 to 2014, Stabler was also home to the Professional Indoor Football League's Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.Stabler also has hosted ABC's Wide World of Sports and the U.S. Women's gymnastics finals.MusicBecause of the arena's reputation for exceptional acoustics and lively audiences, some musical acts have kicked off their U.S. concert tours at Stabler. These include: The Cranberries, Grateful Dead, KISS, Bette Midler & The Moody Blues. The Grateful Dead played at the Stabler Arena on September 25, 1981. Nirvana played at the Stabler Arena on November 9, 1993. Judas Priest kicked off their 1982 World Vengeance Tour at Stabler.