Kansas Pavilions facts for kids
| Location | Sedgwick County, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°50′10″N 97°19′16″W / 37.83609°N 97.321205°W |
| Owner | Private Developer |
| Operator | Sedgwick County Government |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1977 |
| Renovated | 2006, 2010 |
| Closed | 2016 |
| Architect | Thomas, Harris, Ash and Mason |
| General contractor | Dondlinger & Sons Construction Co. INC |
The Kansas Pavilions was a large complex in Sedgwick County, Kansas, near the city of Park City, Kansas. It was a place where many different public events were held. People went there for horse shows, livestock shows, dog shows, and car shows. It also hosted big swap meets and flea markets. The Kansas Pavilions stopped holding events after 2016.
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What Were the Kansas Pavilions?
The Kansas Pavilions was a special place designed for many kinds of events. It was once part of a bigger area called the Kansas Coliseum complex. This complex was built in 1977. It included a large sports arena called the Britt Brown Arena, which could hold almost 10,000 people.
A Look Back at Its History
The Britt Brown Arena closed in February 2010. This happened after a new arena, the INTRUST Bank Arena, opened in downtown Wichita. In 2012, the entire Kansas Coliseum complex was sold to a private company.
Keeping the Pavilions Open
When the Britt Brown Arena closed, many people were upset. They did not want the Pavilions at the Kansas Coliseum to close too. People who often used the Pavilions said that the new INTRUST Bank Arena was not set up for "dirt" events. These are events like horse and livestock shows, which need a dirt floor.
On June 30, 2010, the leaders of Sedgwick County voted. They decided to keep the Pavilions open until at least 2016. They also gave the complex a new name: the Kansas Pavilions.
What Was Inside?
The Kansas Pavilions had four main buildings, which were called pavilions. It also had an RV park with 20 spaces for recreational vehicles.
When people in Sedgwick County voted to approve a sales tax, part of that money was set aside. This money was used to make the pavilions at the Kansas Coliseum better. The renovation work happened in 2006 and 2010. It cost about $4.5 million to update the facilities.
The main building was called the Sam E. Fulco Arena. It was very big, with 135,000 square feet of space. Other important areas included Pavilion II, which had 90,000 square feet. There was also the Arena Building with 45,000 square feet. The complex even had a covered area with dirt, perfect for practicing.
What Is There Now?
Today, the complex is used by the National Institute for Aviation Research. This institute uses the space for its Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center.
