In addition to sporting events, the Smith Spectrum is utilized for concerts, commencement ceremonies, and other special events central to the Cache Valley community. The arena, originally known as the Assembly Center, opened for its first basketball game on December 1, 1970. It became known as the Spectrum within the next year, and was named for Dee Glen Smith, founder of Smith's Food and Drug, whose contribution funded a 1988 renovation that added new offices for USU Athletics Department and the USU Ticket Office.