Difference between revisions of "Verizon Arena"
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The arena lost $378,000 in 2001 despite being named a top forty arena in terms of ticket sales, but turned a profit of $51,000 in 2002. | The arena lost $378,000 in 2001 despite being named a top forty arena in terms of ticket sales, but turned a profit of $51,000 in 2002. | ||
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| + | '''Alltel Arena''' is located in North Little Rock adjacent to the Arkansas River. The arena has a total of 370,000-square-feet; 28,000 square feet of meeting room space and the rest makes up the seating space for 18,000 people. | ||
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| + | Contributions from local, state, and private companies all came together to fund the arena. A sales tax of one cent for one year in Pulaski County were set toward the building of the arena. The State of Arkansas contributed twenty million dollars among other things. Alltel put forth seven million dollars to secure the naming rights to the arena. The Arena opened in 1999 and cost a total of eighty three million dollars. When it opened, all costs were paid off. | ||
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| + | The Multi-Purpose Civic Center Facilities Board for Pulaski County is the owner of the arena. Michael Marion serves as the General Manager of the facility. Michael Marion has 25 years experience in the entertainment industry. He has been highly successful in booking some of the most illustrious names in music, including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Cher, George Strait, Britney Spears, The Eagles, Janet Jackson, Tim McGraw, Elton John, Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and many more. | ||
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| + | Alltel Arena is not limited to providing a venue for sports and concerts, the arena also has the space to accommodate meetings, banquets, conventions and exhibitions for all different types of groups. The seating capacity for these banquet rooms range from 75 to 2,300 square feet. The arena has in its arsenal a 80-by-40-foot stage, eight spotlights, a public address system, audio/video equipment and in-house sound system are provided. | ||
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| + | Alltel Arena is famous for the amazing sporting events and fantastic concerts that it hosts. It has been highly successful in providing entertainment and space to gather for people of all ages and backgrounds. All of these things meshed together makes Alltel Arena the likely arena of choice in Central Arkansas. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 10:04, 10 January 2009
ALLTEL Arena is an 18,000-seat indoor venue for concerts and other entertainment events located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The arena is across the river from the downtown Little Rock River Market. The arena was built in 1998 for $50 million, and opened in 1999.
The arena is home to the Arkansas Twisters arena football team and former home of the RiverBlades ice hockey team. The arena also holds the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, which is accessible on the western side of the building. The arena has hosted such musical acts as Brooks and Dunn, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, 'N Sync, and Prince. The UALR Trojans basketball teams play their home games at ALLTEL.
During construction a number of flaws manifested themselves, including "concrete pillars and connecting incline beams that were poured up to six inches out of alignment." The concrete pillars and connecting incline beams were poured by Nabholz Building & Management Corp. of Greenbrier. According to Art Hunkele, senior project manager for Vratsinas Construction Company of Little Rock and Turner Construction Co. of New York and Dallas concrete pillar and piers define the perimeter of the arena, and the beams support seating. There are two more rows of pillars and piers within the perimeter. It was the middle row where forty percent of the pillars and piers were incorrectly placed. A cracked upper deck beam, soon remedied, caused cancellation of a Lakers-Wizards NBA game in October 1999.
The arena lost $378,000 in 2001 despite being named a top forty arena in terms of ticket sales, but turned a profit of $51,000 in 2002.
Alltel Arena is located in North Little Rock adjacent to the Arkansas River. The arena has a total of 370,000-square-feet; 28,000 square feet of meeting room space and the rest makes up the seating space for 18,000 people.
Contributions from local, state, and private companies all came together to fund the arena. A sales tax of one cent for one year in Pulaski County were set toward the building of the arena. The State of Arkansas contributed twenty million dollars among other things. Alltel put forth seven million dollars to secure the naming rights to the arena. The Arena opened in 1999 and cost a total of eighty three million dollars. When it opened, all costs were paid off.
The Multi-Purpose Civic Center Facilities Board for Pulaski County is the owner of the arena. Michael Marion serves as the General Manager of the facility. Michael Marion has 25 years experience in the entertainment industry. He has been highly successful in booking some of the most illustrious names in music, including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Cher, George Strait, Britney Spears, The Eagles, Janet Jackson, Tim McGraw, Elton John, Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and many more.
Alltel Arena is not limited to providing a venue for sports and concerts, the arena also has the space to accommodate meetings, banquets, conventions and exhibitions for all different types of groups. The seating capacity for these banquet rooms range from 75 to 2,300 square feet. The arena has in its arsenal a 80-by-40-foot stage, eight spotlights, a public address system, audio/video equipment and in-house sound system are provided.
Alltel Arena is famous for the amazing sporting events and fantastic concerts that it hosts. It has been highly successful in providing entertainment and space to gather for people of all ages and backgrounds. All of these things meshed together makes Alltel Arena the likely arena of choice in Central Arkansas.
References
- Jay Harrod and Kerry Kraus, "Capital Improvements: A Look at Little Rock's Past and Future Downtown Revitalization Efforts," Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism, April 9, 2002, unpublished.
- Kim McGuire, "Alltel: An Arena for All Arkansas; On Saturday the Public Gets Its First Real Look at the New $80 Million Facility," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 26, 1999.
- Alicia Stogner, "Arena Lives Up to Promise: Shaky Opening Fades as Alltel Arena Turns Profit," Arkansas Business, February 24, 2003.
