Wings Event Center facts for kids
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| Former names | Wings Stadium (1974–2015) |
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| Location | 3600 Vanrick Drive Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 |
| Owner | Stadium Management Company/Greenleaf Hospitality |
| Operator | Stadium Management Company/Greenleaf Hospitality |
| Capacity | 5,113 (Ice Hockey, Indoor Football, Basketball) 8,023 (Other) |
| Surface | Ice |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 1974 |
| Opened | October 30, 1974 |
| Architect | Richard A. Schramm |
| Tenants | |
| Kalamazoo Wings (IHL) (1974–1995) Kalamazoo Kangaroos (AISA) (1984–1986) Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) (2000–present) Kalamazoo Xplosion (CIFL) (2007–2008) |
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The Wings Event Center is a large building in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It's a place where many different events happen. It used to be called Wings Stadium. This arena opened in 1974.
It is the home of the Kalamazoo Wings. This team plays ice hockey in the ECHL league. The name changed in 2015. This was done to show that the building can host more than just sports. It can hold concerts, shows, and other big events too.
Contents
What Can You Do at Wings Event Center?
The Wings Event Center is a big complex. It has places to buy food and drinks. There are four snack stands and two bars. There is also a sports bar called the Underground Sports Bar. The main arena is part of a larger sports and convention area. This area serves the southwest part of Michigan.
Concerts and Shows
This stadium is a popular place for concerts. It can hold up to 8,023 people for music shows. It also works as a convention center. This means it has a lot of open space for trade shows. It has about 17,000 square feet (1,579 square meters) for exhibits.
The stadium has also hosted many wrestling events. These were put on by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). In 1992, they filmed some TV shows there. These included Superstars, Prime Time Wrestling, and All American Wrestling.
Famous Wrestling Moments
One special moment happened in 1992. A famous wrestler called The Ultimate Warrior had a match there. It was his first TV match after being away for a year. He won against a wrestler named Skinner. This match was shown on TV later.
Other Areas of the Complex
The Wings Event Center is more than just one big arena. It has other buildings too. These buildings add more space for different activities.
The Annex
In 1989, a new part was added. It is called the Annex. This area can seat 1,367 people for hockey games. For other events, it can hold up to 2,850 people. The Annex also has 17,000 square feet (1,579 square meters) of floor space. It can be used for hockey, curling, and trade shows. There is also a viewing area of about 3,166 square feet (294 square meters).
The Cube
The Cube is the third arena in the complex. It was added in 1997. The Cube is used for hockey and trade shows. Its floor space is also 17,000 square feet (1,579 square meters). This means the whole complex has about 51,000 square feet (4,738 square meters) of exhibit space. The Cube also has a viewing area of about 5,800 square feet (539 square meters).
Lobby and Hospitality
The complex has a large lobby. It is about 2,500 square feet (232 square meters). There is also a special room for guests. This hospitality room is about 500 square feet (46 square meters). You can also find another snack stand and a bar here. This bar is called the Icehouse by Old Burdick's. It looks out over the Annex.
Images for kids
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The outside of Wings Stadium
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Inside Wings Stadium during an event
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Another view of the Wings Stadium interior
See also
In Spanish: Wings Stadium para niños
