Located downtown at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and N Street, it was built in 1998, and was originally known as Centennial Garden, a name submitted by local resident Brian Landis.
[7] In February 2025, the city of Bakersfield announced that Dignity Health bought the naming rights of the arena, which was renamed Dignity Health Arena, Theater and Convention Center on March 1, 2025, and run through December 31, 2035.
[9] Mechanics Bank Arena is also the current home to the California Interscholastic Federation High School State Wrestling Championship Tournament held the first weekend in March.
[11] The southern concourse of Dignity Health Arena serves as the exhibit home of the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame.
The venue has hosted NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournaments, The California Interscholastic Federation State High School Wrestling Championship Tournament, PBR rodeos, monster truck shows, NHL and NBA pre-season games hosting the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, World Wrestling Entertainment televised shows, the ECHL All-Star Game, an annual high school all-star football game played under Arena Football rules, conventions, Disney On Ice, Olympic Figure Skating Shows, and numerous concerts featuring musical acts of various genres, including The Eagles, hometown band Korn, and Brad Paisley.