The Ford Center, Evansville, Indiana’s new arena will host its grand opening on Friday, November 11.
The Ford Center, which replaces the aging Roberts Stadium, was built to house sports — including ice hockey, basketball, indoor soccer and arena football — and entertainment such as concerts and special events including circuses and other shows.
The first teams to enjoy the use of The Ford Center will be the University of Evansville Purple Aces men’s and women’s basketball teams and the Evansville IceMen hockey team.
The official grand opening event on November 11 will feature a performance by country music artist Reba McEntire after opening acts The Band Perry, Steel Magnolia, and Eden’s Edge. Tickets for the opening concert are available here.
Amenities at The Ford Center include 17 suites and four mini-suites, unobstructed views from every seat and padded chairs at every seat. Total seating capacity for center stage events is 11,000. End stage concerts and basketball games can host 10,000 spectators and ice hockey seats 9,400.
In addition to the grand opening concert and Purple Aces and IceMen games, upcoming scheduled events include the Hadi Shrine Circus (Nov. 27); performances by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 7) and the Zac Brown Band (Dec. 28); Monster Jam Truck Shows (Jan. 6-7) and the Harlem Globetrotters (Jan. 14).