Stan Sheriff Center, arena in Hawaii, United States
Stan Sheriff Center is a sports arena on the University of Hawaii campus in Honolulu, used mainly for basketball and volleyball. The building has a curved roof, several seating levels, and clear sightlines from most seats in the house.
The arena opened in 1994 as the Special Events Arena and was renamed the Stan Sheriff Center in 1998, honoring the former UH athletic director Stan Sheriff (1932–1993), who had lobbied for its construction. Bank of Hawaii secured naming rights in a 10-year, $5-million deal announced on November 12, 2020, first branding it SimpliFi Arena; on August 26, 2025 the branding became Bankoh Arena.
The arena takes its name from Stan Sheriff, a former athletic director at the University of Hawaii who pushed hard for its construction. On game days, students and local fans fill the seats together, creating a strong sense of community around university sports.
The arena is reachable by public bus or ride-sharing, with parking available nearby on the university campus. Arriving a little early is a good idea, especially before popular games, as the entrances can get busy.
The arena hosted the Miss Universe pageant on May 12, 1998, and was the Hawaiian stop for World Championship Wrestling from 1994 until the organization folded in 2001. In October 2015 it staged two NBA preseason games between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz, both billed as Lakers home games; the Jazz won both, the second in overtime.
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