Tyson Events Center facts for kids
Tyson Events Center features Fleet Farm Arena and Long Lines Family Recreation Center (right, formerly the Sioux City Municipal Auditorium)
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| Former names | Gateway Arena (2003-19) |
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| Location | 401 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, Iowa 51101 |
| Coordinates | 42°29′29″N 96°24′26″W / 42.49139°N 96.40722°W |
| Owner | City of Sioux City |
| Operator | Spectra, subsidiary of Comcast Spectacor |
| Capacity | Concerts: 10,000 Basketball: 6,813, with standing room for at least 9,500 Hockey: 6,731, with standing room for at least 9,500 Indoor football: 6,941, with standing room for at least 9,500 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 30, 2002 |
| Opened | December 17, 2003 |
| Construction cost | $53 million ($84.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket FEH Associates |
| Services engineer | KJWW Engineering Consultants, P.C. |
| General contractor | Mortenson/Klinger |
| Tenants | |
| Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) (2003–present) Sioux City Bandits (CIF) (2004–present) |
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The Fleet Farm Arena is a large building in Sioux City, Iowa, where many different events happen. It is part of the Tyson Events Center and used to be called Gateway Arena. This arena is sponsored by Tyson Foods and Fleet Farm.
It has three levels for people to watch from. This includes special 'suite' rooms and two main seating areas. Up to 10,000 people can fit inside for concerts!
The city of Sioux City owns this arena, which sits right by the Missouri River. The city used to run the arena itself. But since 2018, a company called Spectra helps manage it. They handle things like booking events and selling food.
The arena is home to two sports teams:
- The Sioux City Musketeers play ice hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
- The Sioux City Bandits play indoor American football in Champions Indoor Football (CIF).
The Fleet Farm Arena also hosts many college sports tournaments. These include events for the NAIA. For example, it hosts national tournaments for wrestling, women's volleyball, and women's basketball.
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History of the Arena
In 2002, work began on this new arena. It was built next to the old Sioux City Municipal Auditorium. The old auditorium later became the Long Lines Family Recreation Center.
The new arena opened in 2003 as Gateway Arena. It was named after a computer company called Gateway, Inc.. Even after another company, Acer Inc., bought Gateway in 2007, the name Gateway Arena stayed.
In June 2019, the naming rights deal ended. On September 30, 2019, a store chain called Fleet Farm took over. They signed an eight-year deal, and the arena became known as Fleet Farm Arena.
Events at the Arena
The Fleet Farm Arena has hosted many exciting events over the years.
Wrestling Shows
The arena has welcomed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) many times. These events include live shows and televised programs like SmackDown and Raw.
- On September 25, 2004, a live WWE show took place.
- A televised SmackDown was held on May 17, 2005.
- Several Raw shows happened on July 10, 2006, February 5, 2007, and January 12, 2009.
- Another Raw show was held on July 1, 2013.
- In December 2014, a SmackDown event featured the famous wrestler Hulk Hogan.
- On April 22, 2019, the arena hosted a non-televised WWE Live: Smackdown event.
Concerts and Entertainment
Many famous music artists have performed concerts here.
- Some of the bands include Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, and Nickelback.
- Singers like Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Cher, and Carrie Underwood have also played at the arena.
- The comedian Larry the Cable Guy has performed here three times.
Other Special Events
The arena has also hosted important non-entertainment events. For example, President George W. Bush gave a speech here in 2004 during his re-election campaign.
