[5] The Times Union, which is the largest newspaper for the Albany area, had declined to renew its naming rights, leading to MVP Arena's renaming.

[citation needed] MVP Arena also regularly hosts exhibition games of major sports leagues.

In addition, the arena has hosted the Professional Bull Riders premier tour in 2008 and again in 2022, with another in 2023 in conjunction with the 2024 PBR season.

MVP Arena was home to the American Hockey League from 1993, when the Albany River Rats became the building's primary tenant until 2017.

In the process, River Rats goaltender Michael Leighton set a modern-day record by making 98 saves.

[14] It was announced on January 31, 2017, that the Devils would relocate to Binghamton following the completion of the 2016–17 season[15] ending 24 years of AHL hockey in the arena.

Notable events include the 1992 Royal Rumble, where Ric Flair won the 30-man over the top rope match to become the new WWF Champion.

This event was notable for the return on Stone Cold Steve Austin after a neck injury sidelined him for the better part of a year and for Kurt Angle winning the WWF championship for the first time in his career.

In 2003, MVP Arena hosted the NCAA basketball East Regional, which was won by Syracuse University on their way to their first national championship.

After 8 years, it was announced that the Albany Empire would be entering the Arena Football League in 2018 and they made the #1 seed in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

The concert took place February 15, and there were many empty seats due to a blizzard keeping many fans from getting to the arena.

[28] Phish has played the arena 16 times, most recently a series of benefit concerts for Anastasio's Divided Sky Foundation, in October 2024.

[30] Céline Dion returned to the arena after 21 years on December 7, 2019, as part of her Courage World Tour.

Dion's first performance at the arena took place on December 1, 1998, as part of her Let's Talk About Love World Tour.