Great Southern Bank Arena

Great Southern Bank Arena (originally known as JQH Arena) is an indoor arena in Springfield, Missouri. The arena opened in 2008. It is located on the campus of Missouri State University and is the home of the Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears basketball teams.

Overview

There is a maximum seating capacity of 11,000. Included in the seating capacity are 9,637 chairback seats, 122 seats for permanently disabled guests, 114 loge seats, and 22 private suites. 55 courtside seats are arranged for basketball games and 1,363 bleacher back seats in the end zones are reserved for students. There are 166 public restroom stations (98 for women and 70 for men), six concession stands with 42 points of sale plus 12 additional portable locations, and 2 elevators. Located just off the main lobby area is a team store selling Missouri State University apparel and souvenirs. Maximum seating for concerts with an end-stage is 10,542.

The arena bears the initials of John Q. Hammons, a Springfield-based hotel developer and Missouri State alumnus who donated $30 million for the arena's construction. JQH Arena replaced the Hammons Student Center (also named in honor of its major donor) in terms of function and is connected with the Hammons Student Center via an underground corridor.

The venue underwent a name change in April 2022. Naming rights were purchased by Great Southern Bank for $5.5 million.

The band Eagles played the inaugural concert at JQH on November 13, 2008, in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,550.

GSB Arena currently co-hosts the Missouri State High School Activities Association state basketball semifinals with the Hammons Center. All championship games are played in the arena.

JQH Arena had been a regular stop of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR)'s Premier Series from 2009 through 2019. In 2024, Great Southern Bank Arena will be the new home arena of the Missouri Thunder; one of the PBR's ten teams during the Team Series season. Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, had previously served as the Missouri Thunder's home arena in 2022 and 2023.