Knickerbocker Arena Albany NY History: The Iconic Downtown Venue That Opened with Frank Sinatra, Hosted Grateful Dead Runs, WWE Events & NBA Development League Action

Relive the Knickerbocker Arena – Albany, New York’s beloved downtown multi-purpose arena (opened January 30, 1990) that started as the Knickerbocker Arena, later became Pepsi Arena and Times Union Center, and is now MVP Arena. Explore its construction on cleared downtown blocks, opening night with Frank Sinatra, legendary concerts (Grateful Dead, Phish, The Who, Bruce Springsteen), Albany Patroons and River Rats hockey, WWE Royal Rumble, and why the original “Knick” name and early 1990s vibe still spark strong Capital Region nostalgia.