San Diego has many wonderful entertainment facilities within its borders, but none matches the San Diego Sports Arena for either iconic status or history. The landmark opened Nov. 17, 1966, and through the decades has hosted everything from sports franchises to circuses and from showy ice skating to rodeos. The facility holds 10,000 to 15,000 patrons, depending on seating configurations. As a music venue, the facility is legendary, having played host to scores of icons, including Elvis Presley, U2, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, with more artists added to the list each year. The building can be seen in numerous live concert DVDs as well as in films ranging from “Wayne’s World 2” to “Almost Famous.” Upcoming concerts include Barry Manilow (Oct. 18), Kanye West (Nov. 11) and KISS (Nov. 27). The 43-year-old arena is now poised for a face-lift and will be undergoing a $2.5 million renovation that will include new restrooms, replacement of all lower-level seating and LCD televisions throughout the outer concourse and concession stands. The retrofit includes the backstage areas, which now includes star suites for performers in addition to sports team locker rooms. The catalyst for the upgrades is international sports, entertainment and venue organization AEG Live, which became a majority-owner partner in 2008. “AEG believes that the entertainment experience should be better, meaning aesthetically, meaning parking, meaning concessions,” said Ernie Hahn, general manager of the sports arena. “We are going to now be more state-of-the-art than any of our competition in San Diego that is doing concerts and entertainment on this level.” The biggest change to the aging facility will be the new 6,500-square-foot, membership-only Club 3500, which will debut in October. Taking the space formerly held by the Arena Club, the room will be a 350-person capacity combination of upscale nightclub venue and sports bar — part of the VIP experience for shows and special events. Annual membership will be $2,450, with the option to purchase up to four tickets for events. Additional perks include a reserved-seating section, located stage right, exclusive parking lot entrance and exit, a VIP parking area and a members entrance. On nights when the sports arena is not hosting an event, Club 3500 will be available for special events, with a DJ booth and area for live bands. “If we have the success that we think it will, we’ll have it open on Fridays and Saturday nights for the community, just as a bar, so people can come down and see and be part of it,” Hahn said. The history of the sports arena will also be celebrated through the renovation. Memorabilia will be on display in Club 3500, while 16 20-by-15-foot vinyl wraps will be placed around the outer concourse with pictures and dates of famous concerts and sporting events that have taken place at the venue. Additional framed photos, with the events’ history detailed, will also be placed throughout the concourse. “I want you to walk through this facility like it’s a living hall of fame,” Hahn said. “There’s been over 1,000 concerts that have taken place here. We’re 43 years old and that excitement’s gotten buried. But Janis Joplin, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix played here twice, Elvis three times, Led Zeppelin seven, Neil Diamond 17 times. We have all this cool history and all these great acts that have been through here.” Hahn notes the arena’s website will also have new features. “We will also be reaching out to all San Diegans with an (online) area where they can e-mail us stories of their favorite moments at the arena,” Hahn said. “(There is) so much good stuff that needs to come out and be celebrated by everyone. “No active arena has the history we do,” he said. “Now, we will have the improvements that San Diegans have wanted and will be reaching down and dusting off the events of the past so everyone can enjoy them. That is what makes us different and we intend to showcase every bit of it.” For more info on the San Diego Sports Arena, visit www.sandiego-arena.com.