The arena was announced in February 2020,[6] and was built at a cost of $84 million,[7] on the former site of the Henderson Pavilion amphitheater.[8] Some residents opposed the project because of its location and potential increase on traffic, as well as its use of public financing.[9][10][11] The Henderson Pavilion was demolished later in 2020,[12] and work on the arena was underway soon thereafter.[13]
Initially called the Henderson Event Center, a naming rights partnership was announced in March 2021 with Dollar Loan Center, a Las Vegas-based short-term loan company. Under the deal, the arena was named The Dollar Loan Center,[14] disambiguated with the article "The" to differentiate it from the company.[15] The venue hosted its first event on March 8, 2022.[16]
Dollar Loan Center allowed its naming rights to expire on April 1, 2024, and be purchased by the owners of Lee's Discount Liquor. The arena was renamed as Lee's Family Forum, in honor of company founder Hae Un Lee and his son Kenny Lee.[17][18]
In May 2021, the Indoor Football League (IFL) announced that Bill Foley, owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, had purchased an IFL franchise to compete at The Dollar Loan Center.[21] On August 23, 2021, Foley announced that the team would be known as the Vegas Knight Hawks and that Mike Davis would be the franchise's general manager and head coach.[22] On May 10, 2022, it was announced that the IFL National Championship game would be played at The Dollar Loan Center for the 2022–2024 seasons.[23]
The Big West Conference announced on June 24, 2021, that the men's and women's basketball championships would be held at The Dollar Loan Center starting in 2022 – the tournament was the first ticketed event held at the arena.[24]
Since 2022, the Ball Dawgs Classic (known as the Vegas 4 in its inaugural year) has been played at the arena.[25]
