fiscal year budget. The new arena is planned to cost $80 million, with $60 million coming from state funding and the remainder from private funding. The new arena seats up to 8,000 spectators. In addition to being the new home of men's and women's basketball, the arena is also used for commencement ceremonies, concerts, and other large events. The basketball programs' administrative offices and practice facilities remain in the current Sports Arena. Planning of the new arena took 12 months while construction took an additional two years to complete. On May 10, 2019, Governor Brian Kemp approved $48 million in the state's 2019 budget for the new Georgia State convocation center. On February 25, 2022, the Panthers played their last game in GSU Sports Arena beating Louisiana 65-58. The Georgia State Convocation Center opened in 2022. Events The GSU Sports Arena was used during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta to host the badminton competition. In 2002 and 2007, the arena hosted ESPN's College Slam Dunk and 3-point Championships during the 2002 and 2007 Final Four competition. The pop band *NSYNC held a charity basketball game in 2000 before the Georgia Dome hosted Super Bowl XXXIV. Various graduations both for Georgia State University students and high school students are held annually at the arena. Various performances have been held by different entertainers, including Jay Leno, Dana Carvey, Jamie Foxx, The Spinners, the Beastie Boys, Cheap Trick, Ludacris and the Harlem Globetrotters. The arena hosted the 2001 and 2003 Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball tournaments. See also List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas References References 1996 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. p. 540. 1996 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 3. p. 450. Georgia State Panthers men's basketball Georgia State Panthers women's basketball Georgia State Panthers volleyball College basketball venues in the United States College volleyball venues in the United States Basketball venues in Georgia (U.S. state) Indoor arenas in Georgia (U.S. state) Olympic badminton venues Sports venues in Atlanta Venues of the 1996 Summer Olympics 1973 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Sports venues completed in 1973