Intrust Bank Arena
Intrust Bank Arena is a 15,004-seat multi-purpose arena in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is located on the northeast corner of Emporia and Waterman streets in downtown Wichita. The arena is the second largest indoor arena in the state of Kansas, behind Allen Fieldhouse at KU, which seats 16,300. Locally, it has more seating than Charles Koch Arena at WSU, which seats 10,506. The arena features 22 suites, 2 party suites, and over 300 premium seats. It is owned by the government of Sedgwick County and operated by Kansas native Phillip Anschutz's ASM Global.
Location
500 East Waterman Street
Wichita, Kansas 67202
SMG (2010–2019)
ASM Global (2019–present) [1]
Concerts:
15,750 (center stage)
10,100 (end stage)
Basketball: 15,004
Ice Hockey: 13,450
16,172 (August 27, 2023; Concert by Zach Bryan)
32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2)
Multi-surface
December 4, 2007
January 2, 2010
$205.5 million
($287 million in 2023 dollars[2])
DIO Facilities Project Services[4]
M-E Engineers, Inc.[6]
It is home to Wichita Thunder (ice hockey team) and previously to Wichita Force (indoor football team). The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team uses the arena as an alternate site for games that attract more fans than can be accommodated at its on-campus arena, Charles Koch Arena. The arena hosted first and second-round games for the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament in 2011 and the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2018. The arena is also scheduled to host 1st and 2nd-round games of the men's tournament in 2025, as well as a regional for Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games in the 2022 women's tournament. The arena was scheduled to host the 2021 tournament, until the NCAA announced all games would be held at the state of Indiana due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 29, 2018, the UFC announced that Intrust Bank Arena would host the first ever UFC event held in Kansas.[7]
History[edit]
The facility was known as Sedgwick County Arena during early planning stages. It was meant to replace the Kansas Coliseum north of Wichita.
On November 9, 2004, Sedgwick County voters approved the downtown arena at a projected construction cost of $183,625,241[8] by a 52–48% vote. On April 4, 2005, Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed the Intrust Bank Arena tax bill authorizing Sedgwick County to collect a 1% sales tax beginning July 1, 2005 for 30 months. On January 10, 2008, Sedgwick County announced it had reached a 25-year, $8.75 million naming rights deal with Wichita-based Intrust Bank, the largest bank headquartered in Kansas. This complements a 20-year, $3 million deal with Cessna Aircraft Company to name an adjacent outdoor plaza, and a concourse area deal with Spirit AeroSystems.
It was announced on March 9, 2010, that the Intrust Bank Arena was voted the 'Best Arena' and 'Best Locker Rooms' and also voted third in the 'Best Press Box' category in the Central Hockey League's annual 'Best of the Best' poll.[9] The Intrust Bank Arena cracked Pollstar's Top 50 Arena Venues for ticket sales during the first quarter of 2010. Intrust Bank Arena ranked 22nd in the United States and 45th worldwide.[10] In 2010, net profit was $2,010,736[11] with depreciation of $4.4 million.[12]
In 2011, net profit was $389,659.[13]
In 2012, net profit was $703,000.[14] Metallica set the all-time attendance record for a single-concert when it hosted 15,690 fans at the sold-out show on March 4, 2019.[15]
The arena is owned by the government of Sedgwick County, and operated by ASM Global (itself owned by The Anschutz Corporation through Anschutz Entertainment Group), making it a sister venue to the Orpheum Theatre also located in downtown Wichita that is separately owned by nonprofit Orpheum Performing Arts Centre LTD.
Intrust Bank Arena at night (2009)
