Tony's Pizza Events Center Explained

Stadium Name:Tony's Pizza Events Center
Nickname:Bi Center, Mid-America's Meeting Place
Logo Image:Tony’s Pizza Events Center logo.png
Pushpin Map:Kansas#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Kansas##Location within the United States
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label:Tony's Pizza Events Center
Location:800 The Midway
Salina, Kansas 67401
Coordinates:38.8338°N -97.6003°W
Broke Ground:1977[1]
Opened:June 2, 1979[2]
Owner:City of Salina
Operator:OVG360[3]
Seating Capacity:7,583[4]
Former Names:Bicentennial Center (1979–2017)
Tenants:Kansas Cagerz (USBL) (1999–2007)
Salina Rattlers (IBA) (2000–2001)
Salina Bombers (CPIFL/CIF) (2013–2015)
Salina Liberty (CIF/AFL) (2016–present)
Salina Saints (ABA) (2016–2019)

Bicentennial Center, also known as Tony's Pizza Events Center, is located in Salina, Kansas, United States. It includes a 7,583-seat multipurpose arena, meeting rooms and Heritage Hall, an 18,000 square foot convention center. It is home of the Salina Liberty of the Arena Football League, and is nicknamed Mid-America's Meeting Place. The City of Salina is the primary owner of the center. Spectra manages the center as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world.

History

The first concert at the center was The Osmonds, on June 2, 1979. The concert sold out, and there was a crowd of 7,300.[5]

A variety of events are held at the events center, including concerts, family shows, sport events, trade shows, and conventions. Annual events include: Salina Invitational Basketball Tournament, Salina Home & Leisure Show, Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) 4A Wrestling, Basketball and Volleyball State Tournaments, National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women's Division I Basketball National Championship, Mid-America Farm Expo, Shrine Circus, Tri-Rivers Fair, and commencements for Salina Area Technical College, Brown Mackie College, and USD 305.

The arena has been home to five professional sports franchises: the Kansas Cagerz of the United States Basketball League (1999–2007), the Salina Rattlers of the International Basketball Association (2000–2001), the Salina Bombers of the Champions Indoor Football league (2013–2015), the Salina Liberty, also of the CIF (2016–present), and the Salina Saints of the American Basketball Association (2016–2019).

On February 22, 2017, the center was renamed from Salina Bicentennial Center to Tony's Pizza Event Center, described as "the largest pizza facility in the world.” A food service subsidiary of Schwan Food Company paid $1.2 million to receive comprehensive naming rights for 15 years.[6]

Name

It has undergone the following name changes since it opened:

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Curran. Julie. Motels grow to meet expected demand created by BiCenter . February 26, 2017. The Salina Journal. January 25, 1979. Salina, Kansas . 25 . en.
  2. News: Demuth. Gary. As Salina ages, the Bicentennial Center gets a facelift . February 26, 2017. Salina Journal. February 22, 2015. en.
  3. Web site: Tony's Pizza Events Center - About Us . tonyspizzaeventscenter.com . 16 April 2023.
  4. Web site: SALINA DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION: STAR BOND PROJECT PLAN. salina-ks.gov. City of Salina. February 26, 2017. 125. June 21, 2016.
  5. News: Nate. Jenkins. 20 YEARS OF SALINA BICENTENNIAL CENTER: Concerts have made center popular. February 26, 2017. Newspapers.com. September 19, 1999. Salina, Kansas. 5. en.
  6. Web site: Montague. Sharon. BiCenter to be called Tony's Pizza Events Center. Salina Journal. February 25, 2017. en. February 22, 2017.