The Fox Tucson Theatre is growing.
Thanks to a $5 million multi-year naming rights partnership with Hughes Federal Credit Union, the new Hughes Federal Credit Union Event Center at the Fox Tucson — the Hughes Center at the Fox — will serve as the Stone Avenue entrance for the expanded performing arts complex. It will be a gathering space for performances, community events, and educational programming of all types and sizes. The gift is one of the most significant corporate contributions made to a Tucson arts organization.
“This is a transformational moment for the Fox and for our entire community,” Fox Tucson Theatre Executive Director Bonnie Schock said. “Hughes Federal Credit Union’s extraordinary generosity is not only an investment in a building but also in our city’s cultural vibrancy, economic prosperity, equitable access, education and the future of the performing arts in Southern Arizona. Both Hughes and the Fox have been part of Tucson’s fabric for generations. Hughes has been around for nearly 75 years, and the Fox for nearly 100. That shared commitment to what is unique about this community makes our collaboration truly special.”
The Fox’s name will not change nor will the original Fox Tucson Theatre be touched save for the back wall, where the new space will connect with the Fox lobby. The theatre will continue to be the Fox but expanded.
This commitment marks a major milestone in Fox Tucson’s $26.6 million capital campaign, bringing the campaign to approximately the halfway mark. Hughes has issued a challenge to the broader community to match their commitment with gifts or pledges of $100,000 or more, made before Dec. 31, 2026, to expedite the groundbreaking and construction timeline.
“This gift represents both confidence in the Fox’s vision and a call to action,” Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation Board President Dave Volk said. “We are deeply grateful to Hughes Federal Credit Union for its leadership. Their challenge inspires others to step forward as we work to secure additional six- and seven- figure commitments that will bring this project to life.”
The plans for the expansion have been in the works for years. The new space will significantly deepen the Fox’s capacity to serve youth and families across Tucson. The Fox’s KITT program — Kids in the Theatre — already brings more than 15,000 young people into the performing arts each year through school matinees, Storytime, autism-friendly events, family shows, educator workshops and summer camps. Thousands of complimentary tickets go annually to Title I schools, teachers and caregivers through community partners. The new event center will substantially expand that reach, adding programming space for youth education and community partnerships.
The expansion will add:
350-capacity flexible second-floor performance space dedicated to youth programs, local and regional artists, and more intimate touring performances.
Grand lobby and bar for community events, receptions and pre- and post-show experiences.
Catering kitchen to support Tucson’s culinary community in conjunction with performances and events.
Rooftop terrace with downtown views and outdoor entertainment.
Additional restrooms.
Full ADA accessibility — including public and service elevators and accessible curbside drop-off — making the Fox accessible for the first time in its history.
Together with the existing historic Fox Tucson Theatre, the Hughes Center at the Fox will create a multi-faceted performing arts complex projected to welcome more than 150,000 guests annually — generating an estimated $18 million annual economic impact for the region.
“At Hughes, we believe a community’s health and economic vitality depend on more than financial services — they depend on access to education, the arts, and the kinds of experiences that open doors for young people,” Chief Experience Officer at Hughes Federal Credit Union Elisa Ross said. “The Fox has been making that happen in Tucson for nearly a century. This partnership is a natural extension of our priorities and our deep roots here. We are proud to be Tucson’s hometown favorite for nearly 75 years, and we are proud to help secure the Fox’s future so it can continue to bring the arts to life in our community.”
Hughes is a longtime supporter of community organizations, including Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona and Earn to Learn, which helps low-income students access and complete higher education. The Fox Tucson partnership deepens that same thread: a belief that access to transformative experiences — whether financial, educational or artistic — should never be determined by circumstance.
The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the expansion is designed to preserve its legacy while positioning the organization for its next century. Architectural design approval from the City of Tucson is anticipated in 2027, with groundbreaking in 2028 and a grand opening in 2030, coinciding with the Fox’s 100th anniversary.
