The Honda Center in Anaheim is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Saturday, June 17.
The multimillion dollar venue, which opened to the public on June 17, 1993, was originally known as the Anaheim Arena before it became the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim shortly after its grand opening. It was officially renamed Honda Center in 2006.
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On top of being a world-class performance venue that has welcomed countless big-name rock, pop, hip-hop, country, Latin and K-pop touring acts in 30 years, the mixed use, roughly 17,000-seat arena is also home to the NHL 2007 Stanley Cup Champions the Anaheim Ducks and it’s known for hosting events like the long-running Disney On Ice performances, the Professional Bull Rider series and family-friendly shows like the forthcoming Jurassic World Live Tour.
“When you walk through this building, you’d never believe it’s 30 years old,” Kim Bedier, senior vice president and general manager of Honda Center and OCVibe said during a recent phone interview. “It really has been lovingly maintained and there’s been a lot, I believe over $100 million worth, of improvements through the years — some visible, some not.”
The venue has undergone several facelifts including an expansion in 2017 that created a larger team store and 10,000-square-foot gathering space at its south entrance with additional bars and dining concepts. The property itself and the surrounding land, most of which is city-owned, but managed by Anaheim Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli, is readying for yet another transition as the OCVibe entertainment district begins to develop. In the coming years, this proposed 100-acre community will grow to include a 5,700-seat concert venue, a public park with an outdoor amphitheater, a dozen new restaurants, two hotels, offices and apartments.
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“For a lot of people in Orange County, this is where they came for their first concert or their first date or they graduated here,” Bedier said of the existing venue. “There are so many memories echoing in these walls. We’re about to step into this amazing OCVibe development process, which is going to be a game-changing experience for Anaheim and Orange County. We already have this incredible legacy, but we’re about to break ground on the next 30 years and Honda Center is going to continue to be the jewel in that crown.”
Bedier said she’s looking forward to all of the events the venue has to offer this year, with several hot-selling Latin performances, the return of Nitro Circus and some pop shows, including a very special 30th anniversary concert headlined by No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani, who is actually from Anaheim, on Saturday, Sept. 9.
But before we look to the future, let’s peek back at 30 of the record-breaking moments, biggest artists and concert tours to come to Honda Center. This was a hard list to narrow down since there have been hundreds of iconic musicians and performers to roll through Anaheim over the last 30 years — seriously Prince, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Janet Jackson, The Who, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Jaguares, Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Barry Manilow
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, known for hits like “Copacabana (At the Copa),” “Looks Like We Made It” and “Mandy,” was the first artist to perform at Honda Center on June 19, 1993. At that time, he was out on his Greatest Hits … and Then Some Tour.
George Strait
Country music legend George Strait first headlined County Music Night at The Pond on April 29, 1994. It was a hit, selling out and setting a record with 18,739 fans in attendance. That is still the largest attendance at the venue to date.
Barbara Streisand
The singer and actress performed six shows in Anaheim in 1994. She headlined the venue June 2 and 4 and returned for four more shows on July 18, 20, 22 and 24. The final evening was filmed and later broadcast by HBO for a special dubbed “Barbara: The Concert” on Aug. 21. It brought in 11.2 million viewers and became the highest-rated musical event to date in the network’s history. The special also went in to win several Primetime Emmy Awards.
Garth Brooks
Country music superstar Garth Brooks set an attendance record for three consecutive shows not once, but twice in Anaheim. He performed at the venue back when it was the Arrowhead Pond on June 22-24, 1996 and returned when the venue changed its name to Honda Center for three more evenings on Sept. 16-18, 2016.
No Doubt & Gwen Stefani
Anaheim-based rock band No Doubt have graced the Honda Center stage numerous times. The band first played the venue opening for Bush and Goo Goo Dolls back in 1996. They returned to the venue a year later to headline two sold-out shows on May 31 and June 1, 1997 thanks to the success of their third studio album, “Tragic Kingdom.” They even recorded the concert film, “Live in the Tragic Kingdom,” at the venue during those dates.
No Doubt also joined Linkin Park, Jay-Z and others at the venue on Feb. 18, 2005 to raise funds for Music for Relief’s Concert for South Asia following a devastating tsunami. Vocalist Gwen Stefani would later return to Honda Center with her two solo tours including the 2005 Harajuku Lovers Tour and the 2007 Sweet Escape Tour.
Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison
Three iconic figures in rock music came together for one epic, seven-date West Coast tour that wrapped up in Anaheim on May 23, 1998. The show brought together several generations of fans for an exciting and memorable evening of music.
Andrea Bocelli
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is one of the Anaheim venue’s top performers, having sang at the arena nearly a dozen times since 1999. He also likes to surprise audiences with special guests. In 2011 he brought out Heather Headley; in 2013 he was joined by David Foster and Fantasia Barrino; and in 2016 he sang alongside Katharine McPhee at the venue. He headlined Honda Center again on Dec. 4, 2022, playing songs off his “Believe” album and some holiday favorites.
Bette Midler
Singer and actress Bette Midler first came to the arena in 1999. She returned in 2004 to play Broadway hits, covers and originals including “Oklahoma,” “Do You Wanna Dance?” “The Rose,” “The Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Tomorrow.” She brought her first tour back in a decade to Honda Center, too. On May 29, 2015, she delivered a stunning performance memorable tunes, with lots of dancing, comedy and costume changes.
‘N Sync and Justin Timberlake
During the height of the boy band craze of the late ’90s and early ’00s ‘N Sync headlined in Anaheim twice, selling out shows in 1999 and 2002. NSYNC member Justin Timberlake went on to have his own successful solo career and returned to the venue to perform during the KIIS (102.7 FM) Jingle Ball in 2002 and headlined his own sold-out shows in 2007, 2013, 2014 and on his The Man of the Woods Tour in 2018.
Tina Turner
The late, great Tina Turner said farewell with what was supposed to be her final show ever on Dec. 6, 2000 at the Arrowhead Pond on her Twenty Four Seven Tour. She did, however, return to the venue one last time in 2008 with her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour on Oct. 14, 2008. It was a hit-filled set that included “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” “Private Dancer,” “The Best” and “Proud Mary.”
Bruce Springsteen
The Boss and The E Street Band have played Anaheim numerous times including stops at the venue in 2000, 2008 and 2012. At the shows on April 7 and 8, 2008, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello joined the band to play “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” That moment led to Morello joining Springsteen & Co. for several dates on their 2013 tour and he appeared on the 2014 album, “High Hopes.” Another notable moment in music history was made at Honda Center when Social Distortion’s Mike Ness joined Springsteen and Morello in on Dec. 4, 2012 to perform the Social D hit “Bad Luck.”
U2
Irish rock band U2 first came to Anaheim on its Elevation Tour and sold out three nights April 23, 24 and 26, 2001. During the first evening, vocalist Bono dedicated “In a Little While” to the late Joey Ramone, who had died just a few days earlier. The group also played the Ramones’ “I Remember You” as part of their encore. U2 returned to the venue in 2005 on its Vertigo Tour for two more sold-out shows on April 1 and 2.
Paul McCartney
The former Beatle made two stops in Anaheim on his 2002 Driving World Tour on May 5 and Oct. 25. He returned with the US Tour in 2005 for two sold-out nights on Nov. 11-12.
The Police
In 2007, rock band The Police reunited for a mega concert tour, which at the time became the highest-grossing outing of all time, raking in over $360 million. It was a massive production that included all of the hits and some deep cuts. The band played Honda Center on June 21, 2007, just two days before its sold-out show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angles with the Foo Fighters opening.
Pepe Aguilar
San Antonio, Texas-born Mexican singer Pepe Aguilar first performed at the Anaheim venue on March 8, 2008 and made quite the impression, riding in and singing atop one of his many trained horses. To date, he’s headlined nine shows at the venue, but will play his 10th and 11th concerts on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023. Those shows will also feature performances by Ángela Aguilar, Leonardo Aguilar and Antonio Aguilar.
The Jonas Brothers
At the height of their stardom, pop band The Jonas Brothers performed two sold-out nights at Honda Center on July 13 and 14, 2008. Both of the performances were filmed for the trio’s “Jonas Brothers: 3D Experience” movie. After a brief hiatus and several solo turns from each brother, they got back together and headlined Honda Center again on their Happiness Begins Tour on Oct. 6, 2019.
Rihanna
The pop and R&B singer turned beauty mogul has performed at Honda Center several times throughout her career. In 2010, she brought her Last Girl on Earth Tour to the venue on July 18 and returned a year later with The Loud Tour on June 29, 2011. She later brought the Diamonds World Tour to the arena for a sold-out show on April 9, 2013.
Shakira
Colombian singer Shakira brought her The Sun Comes Out World Tour to Honda Center on Oct. 25, 2010. The jaunt was in support of two back-to-back albums, 2009’s “She Wolf” and 2010’s “Sale El Sol.” While the concert was a sold-out success, filled with her hip-shaking hits as well as the new material, Shakira wasn’t done partying after the show inside the venue was over. She showed up in the parking lot and danced atop a car, delivering an impromptu performance and providing some dance lessons for lucky fans who stuck around.
Lady Gaga
Mama monster played her first big show in Orange County in Anaheim on March 31, 2011 on the second leg of The Monster Ball Tour. The electro-pop opera featured a massive production and included performances of “LoveGame,” “Alejandro,” “Monster,” “Speechless” and “Paparazzi.”
Neil Diamond
Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond celebrated his 40th anniversary with a special show in Anaheim in 2012. Originally, he’d only booked six nights at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles where he recorded “Hot August Night” live in 1972. He surprised fans with an additional show at Honda Center on Aug. 21 and the evening included hits like “Cherry, Cherry,” “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Sweet Caroline.”
The Rolling Stones
The English rock band brought their No Security Tour to Honda Center in 1999 and played two sold-out shows on Feb. 9 and Feb. 11. The group was back in 2013 on their 50 & Counting Tour on May 15 and 18, this time bringing out special guests each evening to celebrate its 50th anniversary. On the first evening, guitarist John Mayer joined the band for a cover of Muddy Waters’ “Champagne & Reefer.” Three nights later, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl came out and rocked through an extended version of the band’s song, “Bitch.”
Fleetwood Mac
Rock band Fleetwood Mac also graced the stage in Anaheim several times including in 2003, 2009 and 2013. But the headlining gig on its On With the Show Tour at Honda Center on Dec. 7, 2014 was special since it marked one of the first shows back with Christine McVie, who had left the band in 1998.
Eagles
Los Angeles-based rock band the Eagles played Honda Center eight times from 2005-2014. However the sold-out show on Oct. 3, 2014, during the band’s History of the Eagles Tour, was the last show at the venue to include co-founding member and vocalist-guitarist Glenn Frey, who died in 2016.
Danny Elfman
Singer-songwriter, film composer and former Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman brought his “Danny Elfman’s Music From the Films of Tim Burton” show to Honda Center on Nov. 2, 2014. The live-to-film concert featured selections from Burton’s “Beetlejuice,” “Batman” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” films, the latter of which featured Elfman reprising the singing role of Jack Skellington for a few songs.
Pink
Pop artist Pink first came to Honda Center to open for Justin Timberlake in 2007, but returned to headline the venue on Jan. 29, 2014 on her The Truth About Love Tour. She then brought her 2018 Beautiful Trauma Tour to the arena on May 25. That outing was just a taste of what was to come with the singer-songwriter who continued to add acrobatic stunts and Cirque-style moments into her larger-than-life sets.
Foo Fighters
Formed in the San Fernando Valley, rock band the Foo Fighters first played Honda Center during the KROQ (106.7 FM) Almost Acoustic Christmas on Dec. 11, 1999. Though the band had been back since, its most memorable appearance came on Sept. 21, 2015, when frontman Dave Grohl performed the entire show sitting upon a true rock ‘n’ roll throne since he’d broken his leg earlier in the tour.
For the jaunt, which was in support of the band’s “Sonic Highways” album, the band wanted to ensure tickets got into the hands of actual fans so it sold tickets directly from the Honda Center box office before they were available online. Thousands of fans waited in line for hours to score tickets.
BTS
K-pop band BTS played one of its very first shows in the U.S. at Honda Center in Anaheim. On its 2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour, they played only five shows in three U.S. cities, with Honda Center being the only venue on the West Coast. The group played two sold-out evenings on April 1 and 2, setting a record for the fastest sell-out in the arena history.
Real Street Festival
For the first time in over two decades Honda Center used its outdoor space for a major festival event. The venue hosted the two-day, multi-stage Real Street Festival on Aug. 10-11, 2019 with Future, Cardi B, Rae Sremmurd, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Saweetie and more. With about 40,000 fans attending the event each day a lot of fun was had, however there were some noise complaints from residents in neighboring cities due to a “geologic or auditory phenomenon” that caused the sound to carry to select areas, officials said.
Elton John
Sir Elton John has performed a total of 10 times at Honda Center since he made his venue debut on Sept. 17, 1994. He made sure, 25 years later, to include Orange County on the list of stops during his lengthy Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. John said “goodbye” to fans with two sold-out shows at Honda Center on Sept. 10 and 11 in 2019.
Alan Jackson
Country star Alan Jackson had headlined in Anaheim numerous times and sold out the arena with each turn. On Oct. 1, 2022, Jackson brought his Last Call: One More For The Road Tour to Honda Center. The singer-songwriter announced a year earlier that he’d been suffering from a degenerative nerve condition and was uncertain about his future and touring. He delivered a stunning set on what may have been his final area show that included hits like “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” “Chattahoochee” and “Good Time.”
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