[2] In 2007 the university initiated a feasibility study for the construction of a new on-campus 6,000-seat events center adjacent to the Kibbie Dome; however, the estimated cost of $70 million was deemed too high and the project was shelved.

[2] The need for a new basketball facility became further evident when an unoccupied section of the Spectrum's temporary bleachers collapsed during pre-game warmups ahead of a February 2014 match-up against Seattle.

[4][2] Planning began in 2017 for construction of a new on-campus events center, led by university president Chuck Staben and athletic director Rob Spear.

[8][1] An official ground-breaking ceremony was held on June 6, 2019, and was attended by then-United States Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and Idaho Central Credit Union CEO Kent Oram.

[7] The arena opened in autumn 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 8;[11] its first event was on November 5, a concert by alternative rock band Third Eye Blind during the university's family weekend.