# 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.

## Attendance Records

| Rank | Attendance | Date | Game Result |
| 1 | 11,077 | February 26, 2011 | Missouri State 69, Wichita State 64 |
| 2 | 10,881 | November 22, 2008 | Missouri State 62, Arkansas 57 |
| 3 | 10,776 | January 11, 2014 | #6 Wichita State 72, Missouri State 69 (OT) |
| 4 | 10,655 | January 22, 2011 | Missouri State 67, Creighton 66 |
| 5 | 10,008 | January 1, 2010 | Missouri State 68, Illinois State 64 |
| 6 | 9,901 | January 30, 2011 | Northern Iowa 60, Missouri State 59 |
| 7 | 9,376 | January 28, 2012 | Missouri State 63, Northern Iowa 51 |
| 8 | 9,134 | January 11, 2011 | Missouri State 65, Evansville 50 |
| 9 | 9,124 | January 18, 2012 | #18 Creighton 66, Missouri State 65 |
| 10 | 9,111 | January 9, 2010 | Missouri State 88, Bradley 69 |

## Concerts

* The Eagles - November 13, 2008
* Casting Crowns - December 2, 2008 and October 4th, 2021
* MercyMe - April 11, 2009 and February 20, 2011
* Larry the Cable Guy - May 2, 2009
* Jeff Dunham - March 13, 2010
* Carrie Underwood - June 15, 2010 and October 28, 2012
* Alan Jackson - September 23, 2010
* Jason Aldean - October 29, 2010 and February 14, 2020
* Trans-Siberian Orchestra - November 5, 2010
* Rascal Flatts and Chris Young - March 5, 2011
* Francesca Battistelli - April 2, 2011
* Elton John - April 16, 2011
* Celtic Woman - April 30, 2011
* Michael Bublé - June 21, 2011
* Miranda Lambert - October 21, 2011, and October 25, 2019
* Third Day - November 10, 2011
* Trans-Siberian Orchestra November 12, 2011
* Lady A (known at that time as Lady Antebellum) and Josh Kelley - December 10, 2011
* MercyMe and Tenth Avenue North (Hawk Nelson) (Rend Collective Experiment) (Sidewalk Prophets) - February 16, 2012
* Scott McCready and Brad Paisley - February 25, 2012
* Sanctus Real - March 26, 2012
* Wiz Khalifa - April 12, 2012
* Matthew West and Casting Crowns - April 24, 2012, and October 4th, 2021
* Eric Church - May 3, 2012
* James Taylor - July 17, 2012, and June 27, 2016
* Rascal Flatts - January 12, 2013
* Kid Rock with Buckcherry - February 5, 2013
* Zac Brown Band - February 16, 2013
* Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert - April 12, 2013
* Bob Dylan - April 24, 2013
* Keith Urban - October 20, 2013
* Lady A (known at that time as Lady Antebellum) - December 3, 2013
* The Roadshow with Vertical Church Band - February 6, 2014
* Kiss with Caleb Johnson - July 23, 2016
* Journey with Asia July 3, 2017
* Jim Gaffigan - August 15, 2019
* Chris Stapleton - October 3, 2019
* Shinedown with Papa Roach, Asking Alexandria, and Savage After Midnight - October 5, 2019
* Chris Young with Eli Young Band - November 9, 2019
* Korn with Breaking Benjamin - February 13, 2020
* Kiss with David Lee Roth - February 18, 2020