Sprint Center

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Sprint Center
nickname = ""Giving Kansas City Reason to Cheer"|

location = 1407 Grand Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64106
broke_ground = June 24, 2005 | opened = October 10, 2007
closed =
demolished =
owner = Kansas City, Missouri
operator = AEG
surface =
construction_cost = $276 million
architect = Downtown Arena Design Team:
360 Architecture
Ellerbe Becket
HOK Sport
Rafael Architects|Construction Manager at Risk: Mortenson ConstructionFacade Design & Supply = Overgaard Ltd. seating_capacity = 18,500
former_names =
tenants = Kansas City Brigade (AFL) (2008-)

Sprint Center is a large, multi-use indoor arena in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. [Ahttp://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=E%2014th%20St%20%26%20Grand%20Blvd&city=Kansas%20City&state=MO&zipcode=64106&country=US&geodiff=1] The building is located at 14th Street and Grand Boulevard, on the east side of the Power & Light District. The arena's title sponsor is the telecommunications company Sprint, whose world headquarters is in nearby Overland Park, Kansas.

Sprint Center opened to the public on October 10, 2007, and a concert on October 13, 2007 by Elton John was the first event held at the arena. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/316889.html Elton John made Saturday night alright for a concert] "Kansas City Star", 13 October 2007.] [ [http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/206573.html Elton John to open Sprint Center] "Kansas City Star", 26 July 2007.] The arena is estimated to seat 18,500 people and to have 72 suites. Sprint Center has effectively replaced Kemper Arena, which was built in 1974 just a few miles away in the southern portion of the West Bottoms. Additionally, the College Basketball Experience, which includes the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame will be connected to and located directly north of Sprint Center.

Sprint Center hosted the 2008 Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament, and in addition will host the first and second rounds of the 2009 NCAA Men's Tournament and the regional rounds of the 2010 NCAA Women's Tournament.

Kansas City has also entered into discussions with the NHL and the NBA regarding possible expansion or relocation of a professional hockey and/or basketball franchise for the arena.Fact|date=August 2008

Details

Ground was broken for the arena on June 24, 2005, and construction completed on October 10, 2007. The final design, by the Downtown Arena Design Team (a collaboration of the architectural firms HOK Sport, 360 Architecture, Rafael Architects and Ellerbe Becket), was selected in August 2005. The construction manager responsible for the entire project was M.A. Mortenson Company, based out of Minneapoils, MN. The complete exterior glass facade system, all metal panels for the adjacent buildings and all accessory metal cladding was custom designed, detailed and supplied by Overgaard Ltd., Hong Kong. In total there is approximately 13.000m² (139,932 square feet) of double insulated glass and 5.000m² (53,820 square feet) painted aluminum curtain wall panels. In addition there are roughly 200 tons of system profiles and accessories. All of the 2,404 individual glass units on the main building where produced sequentially and completely assembled prior to shipping. The arena also features a work of public art, The Moons, by artist Chris Doyle, commissioned by the Kansas City Municipal Arts Commission.

The Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament will take place at the Sprint Center in 2008, marking the tournament's return to Kansas City after three years in Dallas and Oklahoma City. Women's basketball will take place at the nearby Municipal Auditorium.

The arena also houses the headquarters of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Which, is located at 1301 Grand Boulevard connected to the Sprint Center.

The outside of the arena is entirely glass. Inside it has state of the art technology with a 360 degree LED video screen. This facility allows Kansas City to draw most concerts touring the United States. There has been speculation of an NBA or NHL team relocating to the Sprint Center, but as of yet no definitive plans have been announced. The city was given an NHL franchise in 1974, the Kansas City Scouts, but the Scouts moved in 1976 to Colorado, and eventually to New Jersey. [Covitz, Randy. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/16291842.htm Penguins owner says team will ‘explore relocation options’] "Kansas City Star", 21 December 2006.] [Conte, Andrew. [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_404151.html Kansas City woos Penguins] "Pittsburgh Tribune-Review", 15 December 2006.] . In 1972, the Cincinnati Royals basketball team moved to Kansas City to become the Kings. The NBA franchise left for Sacramento, California after the 1985 season.

Sprint Center opened on time and on budget on October 10th at 10:10 am. A tour lasted from 10:10 am - 10:10 pm for those who wanted to see it to grab a ticket at the box office. The tour consisted of the College Basketball Experience, two open concession stands: "Taco Taco" and "Oak Street Pizza"; a free drink from UMB Bank and other free items: a UMB Bank cup, a UMB Bank frisbee, and a UMB Bank ice scraper. UMB Bank is the only ATM in the new arena because it is a Sprint Center Founding Partner along with Farmland, The University of Kansas Hospital, QuikTrip, and Olevia. There are other Sprint Center Founding Partners: H&R Block, Toyota, American Century Investments, YRC Worldwide, and Time Warner Cable of Kansas City. The highest food price is around $9.00 and many visitors have found out that they can see every event from anywhere they sit.

Arena users

Concerts

Elton John served as the Sprint Center's first act on date|October 13, 2007. This concert sold out in the first 90 minutes of the tickets being on sale. Garth Brooks performed nine shows between date|November 5, 2007 and date|November 14, 2007. The original show was scheduled for the last date of the nine day run, and the other eight were added in response to high demand. Brooks' show on date|November 14 was broadcast live in movie theaters all around the world. Hannah Montana's show on date|December 3, 2007 sold out in 9 minutes, and became controversial due to the high percentage of tickets purchased by scalpers; tickets offered for resale reached prices as high as $2,000. Tina Turner will begin her first tour in eight years with the Sprint Center being her first concert date on October 1st, 2008, tickets for this venue sold out in a record 2 minutes. Tina Turner will also perform at the Sprint Center on October 8th, 2008 for the second time of her "". Janet Jackson will bring her Rock Witchu Tour to the Sprint Center on October 24th 2008. Power-House metal band Metallica will perform the folowing day October 25, 2008, for their Death Magnetic Tour. Celine Dion will also perform on November 15,2008.

Arena Football League

The Kansas City Brigade announced that they will move from their current home at Kemper Arena to Sprint Center beginning with the 2008 season. The Sprint Center will be able to hold 17,297 people for Arena Football and will also have 72 sold out suites. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/118935.html Brigade plans move to Sprint Center] "Kansas City Star", 22 May 2007.]

Possible major-league sports

William "Boots" Del Biaggio, III. made an offer to purchase the Nashville Predators of the NHL with the intention of bringing the team to the Sprint Center. [Duhatschek, Eric. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070613.wsptduha13/BNStory/Sports/columnists Balsillie shouldn't overplay his hand] "Globe and Mail", date|13 June, 2007] However, Del Biaggio has since joined a group of Nashville investors in an effort to keep the Predators in Nashville. [ESPN.com news services. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3026992 Bettman says board could vote on Predators bid by November] "ESPN.com", date|20 September 2007] In June 2008 Kansas City's hopes to land the Predators took another blow as Del Biaggio ran into legal trouble over a multitude of unpaid loans, culminating in him filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, effectively ending any chance of Del Biaggio moving the Predators to Missouri. On date|January 10, 2007, three NBA teams were reported to have taken an interest in relocating: the Los Angeles Clippers, the Seattle SuperSonics, and an as-yet-unnamed franchise. [ [http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/sports/10717941/detail.html Other Teams Express Interest in Sprint Center] KMBC Channel 9 Kansas City, 10 January 2007.] However, the Supersonics have since moved to Oklahoma City.

Other Sporting Events

*The CBE Classic was held at Sprint Center on date|November 19, 2007 and date|November 20, 2007.

*AVP Pro Beach Volleyball's "Hot Winter Nights Tour" held at the Sprint Center on date|January 12, 2008.

*WWE SmackDown! and ECW was held at Sprint Center on date|October 23, 2007.

Transportation

The arena's vicinity is served by five interstate highways:
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and three U.S. Routes:
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Kansas City International Airport, originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is located 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Downtown Kansas City in Platte County, Missouri.

The area also is served by the Hey BabyKCATA's bus rapid transit (BRT) line, the "Metro Area Express", or "MAX" , which began service in date|July 2005. MAX links the River Market, Downtown, Union Station, Crown Center, Waldo, and the Country Club Plaza. By design, MAX operates and is marketed more like a rail system than a local bus line. A unique identity was created for MAX, including 13 modern diesel buses and easily identifiable “stations". MAX features state-of-the-art technology to deliver customers a high level of reliability, speed and comfort. Dedicated lanes during rush hour help give MAX a rapid, smooth ride, and special traffic signalization holds a green light longer, only if needed, to keep MAX on schedule. Limited stops resulted in reduced travel time between Downtown and the Plaza to about 10 minutes. MAX runs seven days a week from 5am to 1am. During rush hour periods, the buses make stops roughly every 10 minutes. The one-way fare is $1.25.

External links

* [http://www.sprintcenter.com/ Sprint Center official website]
* [http://www.aegworldwide.com/home.html Anschutz Entertainment Group]
* [http://www.kcmo.org/cimo/webcam1.htm Sprint Center construction webcam]
* [http://www.kcmo.org/cimo/webcam2.htm Power And Light District construction Webcam]
* [http://www.chrisdoylestudio.com/Public/MoonsGrid.htm The Moons, Public Art Project by Chris Doyle]

References

* [http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/117995.html Kansas City in the Mix for Sonics] - May 22, 2007 - Source: Kansas City Star
* [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=190690&hubname=nhl Lemieux Meets With Kansas City Officials] - January 3, 2007 - Source: TSN.ca
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2720130&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines Kansas City offers Penguins free rent, ownership stake] - January 4, 2007 - Source: ESPN.com
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2788701 Penguins to aggressively explore relocation] - March 5, 2007 - Source: ESPN.com
* [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/01/04/kansas-city-penguins.html Kansas City offers Penguins free rent] - Source CBC