Addition Financial Arena: A Hub of Entertainment and Athletics at UCF

Addition Financial Arena, located on the main campus of the University of Central Florida (UCF) near Orlando, Florida, stands as a prominent multi-purpose entertainment and sports venue. Formerly known as CFE Arena and UCF Arena, this facility has become a central part of UCF's Knights Plaza, hosting a wide array of events that cater to both the university community and the broader public.

Construction and Design

The arena's construction began in November 2005 and concluded in 2007, with a total cost of $107 million, equivalent to approximately $167 million in today's dollars. Designed by HOK Sports (now Populous) and built by KUD International, the arena spans 252,000 square feet. The facility was conceived as a replacement for the original UCF arena and as a cornerstone of the Knights Plaza development, aiming to create a vibrant on-campus athletic village.

Seating and Amenities

Addition Financial Arena boasts a seating capacity of up to 10,000, accommodating over 9,400 for basketball games. The arena features approximately 7,000 seats in the lower bowl and an additional 3,000 seats in the upper level. Club-level seating is located on the east side, providing exclusive access to the Black and Gold Club. The addition of a courtside club on one of the baselines reduced the lower bowl capacity by 600 seats, resulting in a current capacity of 9,400 for basketball games.

The facility includes 16 luxury boxes and suites, a club lounge, open concourse areas, and various concession options. A state-of-the-art audio and video system enhances the fan experience.

Home of UCF Knights Athletics

Since the start of the 2007-08 season, Addition Financial Arena has been the home of the UCF Knights men's and women's basketball teams. Its location in the heart of Knights Plaza provides an intimate atmosphere for students, alumni, fans, and supporters. The arena's design ensures excellent sight lines for all spectators, creating an intimidating environment for opponents.

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The student section, known as the "Knightmare," contributes to the arena's formidable reputation. UCF's first year in the Big 12 Conference saw record attendance for the men's basketball teams, with 134,000 fans attending 19 home games during the 2023-24 season, averaging just over 9,000 fans per league home contest. The introduction of palm fronds as a free throw distraction in the student section led to the creation of the terms "Fear the Frond" and "Frond Warning," as opponents made 10% fewer of their second-half free throws in Big 12 and postseason play.

The venue has twice sold out for UCF men's basketball games. The first sellout occurred during the 2017 NIT Quarterfinal contest against Illinois, with 10,011 fans in attendance. The second was the Knights' Big 12 Conference home opener against No. 3 Kansas on January 10, 2024, with 9,469 fans. UCF's 65-60 victory over Kansas was the highest-ranked opponent the Knights had defeated in program history.

Other Sporting Events

In addition to basketball, Addition Financial Arena also hosts UCF Women’s Volleyball and the Pro Volleyball Federation’s Orlando Valkyries. The Central Florida Crusaders, expansion members of the National Indoor Soccer League, fielded men’s and women’s teams in the venue for the 2022-23 season.

The arena is located directly in front of UCF’s old home, The Venue, which was renovated to create a new home for the women’s volleyball program and dedicated practice facilities for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Concerts and Entertainment

Addition Financial Arena has hosted a wide variety of events, including concerts by nationally renowned artists, family shows, trade shows, and conventions. The arena officially opened on September 8, 2007, with a Reba McEntire concert.

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Since its opening, the arena has hosted numerous concerts featuring prominent artists across various genres. Under the CFE Arena name from 2013 to 2019, the venue attracted major acts such as Sigur Rós, Ellie Goulding, and Tool with Primus. Other notable performances included Halsey and DNCE, reflecting a shift toward pop and alternative acts appealing to the university's younger demographic.

The arena also hosts UCF commencement ceremonies and other university events.

Professional Sports Teams

The Addition Financial Arena has hosted several professional sports teams since its opening, primarily through short-term or ongoing tenancy agreements managed by UCF. In 2014, the arena served as the home for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team played all 9 regular-season home games there, drawing an average attendance of around 5,000 fans, and hosted a playoff conference semifinal victory against the Pittsburgh Power.

Since January 2024, the arena has been the primary home for the Orlando Valkyries, a professional women's volleyball team initially in the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) and transitioning to Major League Volleyball (MLV) for the 2026 season. The Valkyries have utilized the venue's adaptable court configuration, hosting 12-14 home matches per season with capacities up to 9,432. In their inaugural 2024 season, they finished with an 8-16 regular season record, and in 2025, they captured the PVF championship with a 3-1 victory over the Indy Ignite on May 11, earning a $1 million prize.

Other professional or semi-professional sports users have included occasional events by wrestling promotions such as All Elite Wrestling, which held its Worlds End pay-per-view on December 28, 2024, drawing over 7,000 attendees.

Additional Events and Activities

The Addition Financial Arena regularly accommodates comedy shows and community events that foster local engagement. The arena has been a key site for national-level academic competitions. One of UCF's biggest events, Knight-Thon, a dance marathon that raises money for Children's Miracle Network, is also held at the arena.

Beginning in 2008, the grounds around the arena hosted "Light Up UCF," a holiday celebration featuring an outdoor ice skating rink. In October 2008, the arena hosted one of the largest Presidential Debate Watch Parties ever, projecting the final debate of the election onto a large inflatable movie screen while a Lupe Fiasco concert took place inside.

Naming Rights

UCF has expressed interest numerous times in selling the naming rights to the arena. At one point, AirTran Airways was in negotiations, but no agreement was reached. On August 18, 2022, UCF announced that Addition Financial had extended their naming rights for the facility through 2034.

Location and Surroundings

Addition Financial Arena sits on the northern side of campus, nestled in with UCF’s other athletics facilities, including FBC Mortgage Stadium, The Venue, John Euliano Park, and the UCF Soccer/Track Complex. The arena is the centerpiece of an area that includes apartment-style dormitories with 2,000 total beds and about 100,000-square feet of retail space.

The Venue

The Venue at UCF is another sports and entertainment arena located on the main campus. Opened in 1991, it housed the Knights men's and women's basketball teams from 1991 to 2007 and has served as home to UCF's volleyball team since 1991. The Venue is 87,000 square feet and has 2,500 fixed seats, or up to 3,000 standing-room general admission.

In 2007, the Addition Financial Arena replaced The Venue as the game facility for the basketball teams. Following the opening of the new arena, The Venue was renovated and reopened in April 2008 with 2,500 fixed stadium seats. The Venue is used as a facility for minor indoor sports such as volleyball, as well as a training facility for the Knights basketball teams. It also houses a 2,000-square-foot weight room for use by student athletes.

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