Kansas Expocentre
The Kansas Expocentre is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena built in 1987 in Topeka, Kansas. Previously, the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association, Topeka Tarantulas, Topeka ScareCrows and Topeka Pilots ice hockey teams played there. Many other shows, including concerts, perform here.
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| Full name | Alfred M. Landon |
|---|---|
| Location | Topeka, Kansas |
| Owner | Shawnee County, Kansas |
| Operator | [Spectra Venue Management] |
| Capacity | 10,000 (Concerts) 7,773 (ice hockey) |
| Opened | April 17, 1987 |
| Tenants | |
| Kansas Koyotes (APFL/CPIFL) (2003–2014) Topeka Roadrunners/Pilots (NAHL) (2007–2020) Topeka Sizzlers (CBA) (1987–1990) Topeka ScareCrows (CHL) (1998–2001) Topeka ScareCrows (USHL) (2001–2003) Topeka Kings/Knights (IFL) (1999–2000) Topeka Tarantulas (CHL) (2004–2005) Topeka Capitals (NA3HL) (2013–2015) | |
The Kansas Expocentre was renamed on June 13, 2019 to the Stormont Vail Events Center after signing a ten-year partnership agreement with Topeka-based Stormont Vail Health.
It has hosted the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 5A boys and girls state basketball tournaments since its opening, and the KSHSAA Class 5A and 6A volleyball state championships since 1992. The arena also hosts the USA Wrestling Kansas Kids state championship tournament every March.
Landon Arena is the main part of the Kansas Expocentre. Other areas include Exhibition Hall, a building for trade shows, and Domer Arena, a livestock/horse show arena.[1]
Features
Landon Arena contains 7,450 fixed seats, with 2,550+ floor seats. The arena is climate controlled and features computerized lighting, closed circuit TV security, a state-of-the-art sound system, 13-foot (4.0 m) drive-in entrance, plenty of power, and built-in ice capabilities.[2]
History
The 80-acre (320,000 m2) site in the center of Topeka now known as the Kansas Expocentre has a long history of use for activities related to agriculture, farming, exhibitions, education and entertainment.
Landon Arena, named for Kansas' elder statesman, governor Alfred M. Landon (1887–1987) was built 1987. To tie the old buildings to the new facilities, an indoor passageway was constructed between the conference center and exhibit hall.
It hosted the first Expocentre event with nearly 9,000 people attending a Topeka Sizzlers basketball game.
The grand opening of the Kansas Expocentre was on April 17, 1987, with a sold-out concert featuring Kenny Rogers, T. Graham Brown and Ronnie Milsap.[3]
Significant events
Landon Arena has been the venue for many concerts, family shows, trade shows, consumer shows, horse shows, dog shows and a variety of exhibitions.
- Concert performers have included George Strait, Garth Brooks, KISS, Bob Dylan, My Chemical Romance, Aerosmith, Heart, Rush, Primus, Cher, Rise Against,[4] Alice Cooper, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town,[5] Avenged Sevenfold, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Eric Church, and Kansas.[6]
- It has also hosted some wrestling shows such as WCW, WWE Raw, ECW, WWE Friday Night SmackDown, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling house shows.
- Ice shows include Disney on Ice & High School Musical: The Concert Tour.
- Other Disney shows include Disney Live, Winnie the Pooh, Playhouse Disney Live & My Little Pony Live.
- The arena also hosts the Arab Shrine Circus each year.
References
- "ksexpo.com". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
- "ksexpo.com Expocentre Facilities". Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
- "Kansas Expocentre History". Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
- "http://www.riseagainst.com/events/detail.aspx?eid=55285&arch=arch&cmnt=1". External link in
|title=(help) - "http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/event/2008/09/30". External link in
|title=(help) - Ogle, Ryan. "Kansas Concert Moved to Expocentre". WIBW News. Retrieved 30 June 2016.