Ford Idaho Center facts for kids
Exterior of arena (c.2015)
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| Former names | Idaho Center (1997-2014) |
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| Address | 16200 Idaho Center Blvd Nampa, ID 83687-5012 |
| Owner | City of Nampa |
| Operator | Spectra by Comcast |
| Capacity | 12,279 (Ford Arena) 10,500 (Ford Amphitheater) 2,500 (Ford Theater) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 23, 1996 |
| Opened | February 21, 1997 |
| Construction cost | $50 million ($98.7 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Tenants | |
| Snake River Stampede Rodeo (1997-present) Idaho Stampede (CBA) (1997-2005) Idaho Stallions (IPFL) (1999) God and Country Festival (2000-present) Idaho Horsemen (AWFC) (2019-present) |
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The Ford Idaho Center is a large place in Nampa, Idaho. It has many different areas for sports and fun shows. It is about 15 miles (24 km) west of Boise.
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Fun Events at Ford Idaho Center
The Ford Idaho Center Arena is very famous for rodeo events. It hosts the Snake River Stampede Rodeo every year in July. This rodeo is one of the best in the country! The Stampede moved to the Ford Arena in 1997. Before that, it was held outdoors.
Since 1999, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) have also held big events here. These bull riding shows are a major stop on their tour.
What Else Happens at Ford Arena?
The Ford Arena is used for many exciting things. You can see concerts, trade shows, and other sports events here. It used to be the home of the Idaho Stampede basketball team from 1997 to 2005. It also hosted the Idaho Stallions football team in 1999.
The arena was also home to the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. This tournament moved to the Ford Idaho Center in 1998.
History of the Center
In March 2004, the Ford Idaho Center Arena hosted a special basketball game. The Boise State men's basketball team played a tournament game here. It was moved because of a Metallica concert at another arena. Over 10,000 fans came to watch the game!
Concerts and Music Festivals
The Ford Amphitheater opened on June 15, 1998. The first concert was by country music star Shania Twain. Many other famous musicians have played here since then. These include Tim McGraw, Bob Dylan, and James Taylor.
The Amphitheater has also hosted big music festivals. Some of these include the Vans Warped Tour and Lilith Fair.
Pearl Jam played a concert here on November 3, 2000. Their show was recorded and released as a live album. The Rolling Stones played their first concert ever in Idaho at the arena in 2006.
Other Exciting Shows
The Ford Idaho Center has been the place for many popular shows. These include the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice.
Naming Rights
On January 14, 2014, the City of Nampa announced a new name for the Idaho Center. Ford became the main sponsor. They agreed to pay the city $1 million over five years. That's why it's now called the Ford Idaho Center!
Recent Performances
In July 2016, pop star Meghan Trainor performed at the Ford Amphitheater. She had opening acts like Hailee Steinfeld. Later that month, rock bands Korn and Rob Zombie played there.
In 2017, it was announced that the Idaho Horsemen indoor football team would start playing here in 2019. Rock bands Blondie and Garbage also played at the Amphitheater in July 2017.
Different Areas of the Center
The Ford Idaho Center has several different parts:
- Ford Arena: This is the main indoor arena. It can hold up to 12,279 people. It has a large floor space of 31,200 square feet (2,898 square meters).
- Ford Amphitheater: This is an outdoor concert area. It can hold 10,500 people and has a big stage.
- Ford Sports Park: This area is used for different sports.
- Ford Idaho Horse Park: This park is used for horse shows and events.
The Ford Sports Center has a 200-meter indoor track. It hosts track and field events for the Boise State University Broncos track teams. It even hosted the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in 2012.
