Ford Idaho Center facts for kids
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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/NAL) (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 events. Nampa is about 15 miles (24 km) west of Boise.
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About the Ford Idaho Center
The Ford Idaho Center Arena is very famous for rodeo events. Every July, it hosts the Snake River Stampede. This is one of the best rodeos in the whole country! The Stampede started using the Ford Arena in 1997. Before that, it was held outside.
Since 1999, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) have also come to the Ford Idaho Center. This is a big stop on their tour where riders try to stay on bucking bulls.
Events at Ford Arena
The Ford Arena is a busy place. It hosts many concerts, trade shows, and other sports events. It used to be the home for two football teams:
- The Idaho Stampede basketball team from 1997 to 2005.
- The Idaho Stallions football team in 1999.
The arena also hosted the NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament. This big college basketball event moved to the Ford Idaho Center in 1998. It stayed there until 2000.
History of the Center
The Ford Idaho Center has seen many exciting moments. In March 2004, the Boise State men's basketball team played a big game there. It was part of the NIT tournament. The game had to move to the Ford Idaho Center because a Metallica concert was already planned at Boise State's usual arena. Over 10,000 fans came to watch that 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 there since then. These include Tim McGraw, Bob Dylan, and James Taylor.
The amphitheater has also hosted fun music festivals. Some of these were the Vans Warped Tour and the Mayhem Festival.
- On November 3, 2000, the band Pearl Jam performed. They even released a live album from that show!
- The Rolling Stones played their first-ever concert in Idaho at the arena on November 14, 2006.
- On July 14, 2016, pop star Meghan Trainor performed. Hailee Steinfeld also opened the show.
- Later in July 2016, rock bands Korn and Rob Zombie played together.
- On July 14, 2017, Blondie and Garbage had a joint concert.
- Many bands from Seattle have played at the Ford venues. These include Heart, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, and Death Cab for Cutie.
Other Fun Events
Since it opened, the Ford Idaho Center has been the place to see big shows. These include the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice.
New Name and Sponsorship
On January 14, 2014, the City of Nampa announced a big change. The Ford company became the new main sponsor. Because of this, the Idaho Center was renamed the Ford Idaho Center. Ford agreed to pay the city $1 million over five years for this.
Home to the Idaho Horsemen
Since 2019, the Center has been home to the Idaho Horsemen indoor football team. They played in the American West Football Conference. Starting in 2024, they joined the National Arena League.
Different Areas of the Center
The Ford Idaho Center is made up of several different parts:
- Ford Arena: This is the main indoor arena. It opened in 1997 and can hold 12,279 people. It has a large floor space for many types of events.
- Ford Amphitheater: This is an outdoor stage area. It opened in 1998 and can seat 10,500 people. It has a big stage for concerts.
- Ford Sports Park: This area is used for different sports activities.
- Ford Idaho Horse Park: This part is specially designed for horse shows and events.
The Ford Sports Center also has a 200-meter indoor track. The Boise State University Broncos track teams use it for their home meets. It even hosted the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in 2012.
See also
- List of contemporary amphitheatres
- List of music venues
