Fresno Convention Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center |
|
|---|---|
Exterior view of the arena (c. 2009)
|
|
| Address | 848 M St Fresno, CA 93721-2760 |
| Coordinates | 36°44′01″N 119°47′00″W / 36.73365°N 119.78347°W |
| Owner | City of Fresno |
| Operator | SMG |
| Opened | October 1966 |
| Expanded | 1981, 1999 |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 139,200 sq ft (12,930 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 13,129 sq ft (1,219.7 m2) |
The Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center is a large complex in Fresno, California, where many exciting events take place. It's a special kind of building called a convention center, designed for big meetings, shows, and performances. This huge place has four main buildings. It first opened in 1966 and has been made even bigger in 1981 and 1999 to host more events.
Contents
Selland Arena
The Selland Arena is a huge multi-purpose space, perfect for sports games and concerts. It's named after Arthur L. Selland, who used to be the mayor of Fresno. This arena is very big, with enough seats for over 9,000 people!
Past Teams and Events
Many teams have called Selland Arena home. These include the Central Valley Coyotes (an arena football team), the Fresno State men's basketball team, and the Fresno Falcons hockey team.
The arena has also hosted many fun events over the years. These include big wrestling shows like WWE's Royal Rumble and WWF Fully Loaded. It also hosted the 2000 Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament and the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
FFA State Conference
Every April, the California Future Farmers of America Association holds its big annual state conference here. This event lasts for four days. Students from all over California come to learn important skills. They focus on becoming great leaders, growing personally, and preparing for future careers.
Famous Concerts
Many famous bands and singers have performed at Selland Arena. Some of these include Metallica, No Doubt, Korn, Garth Brooks, Tom Petty, The Grateful Dead, Hilary Duff, Joe Bonamassa, Rush, and Van Halen. A cool fact is that Van Halen even recorded their 1992 "Right Here Right Now" Live Home Video/DVD concert right here in the arena! They had two sold-out shows on May 14–15, 1992.
William Saroyan Theatre
The William Saroyan Theatre is a beautiful place for plays, ballets, and musical performances. It's named after William Saroyan, a famous writer from Fresno. This theatre has 2,353 seats, so lots of people can enjoy a show at once.
Resident Groups
The theatre is home to several local performing arts groups. These include the Fresno Philharmonic (an orchestra), the Fresno Grand Opera, and the Fresno Ballet. It also hosts "Broadway in Fresno," which brings popular Broadway shows to the city.
Theatre Renovations
The theatre recently got a big makeover. The main lobby and VIP Lounge were improved, making them look even nicer. Backstage, they added five new dressing rooms and special "star rooms" for performers. There are also chorus rooms, offices for production teams, and a "green room" where performers can relax before going on stage.
Notable Performances
Many famous artists and shows have graced the stage of the William Saroyan Theatre. These include dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov, conductors like Arthur Fiedler, and comedians like George Carlin and Jerry Seinfeld. Famous violinist Isaac Stern and magician David Copperfield have also performed here. The theatre has hosted popular Broadway shows like Cats, The Sound of Music, Evita, Chicago, and Riverdance. It's also where the Miss California Pageant takes place.
Ernest E. Valdez Hall
The Valdez Hall is one of the biggest spaces at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center. It's a great place for all kinds of social events. People use it for dances, banquets (big dinners), and weddings. It's also perfect for meetings, conventions, and trade shows.
This hall is very large, with 32,000 square feet of open space. It doesn't have any columns, which means there's a clear view from everywhere. It has its own kitchen, a built-in stage for performances, and two "green rooms" for performers.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall is another huge area at the center, perfect for large displays and shows. It has three separate exhibit halls that can be used alone or combined into one giant space. This gives it over 66,000 square feet of room!
This hall is used for exhibits, conventions, and trade shows. It's also a popular spot for social events like weddings, banquets, and community gatherings. On the second floor, there are 20 smaller meeting rooms, including a special lounge for exhibitors. Plus, there's an extra 16,000 square feet of space in the lobbies on the first and second floors.
