The 1,950-seat arena opened in 2000 and is named in honor of former LCU board of trustees member Bobbie Ray "Rip" Griffin (1929–2017), a native of Matador, Texas, who became a prominent Lubbock businessman and philanthropist.

He further served on numerous civic and bank boards and donated to academic and athletic programs at Texas Tech University as well as LCU.

For four decades, Griffin sponsored the Lubbock Hubber baseball club, a semi-professional team.

[1] Griffin once noted that hosting tournaments had varying consequences with more people visiting Lubbock and "they’re going to stay in our hotels, they’re going to eat in our restaurants, and best of all, they’re going to buy gasoline.

"[2] Rip Griffin Center is the home court of the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals basketball and volleyball teams.