INTRUST Bank Arena Sets Standard in Live Entertainment in 2013
The SMG-managed INTRUST Bank Arena ended 2013 with an exceptional year of family, sports and live entertainment. In its fourth year of operation, INTRUST Bank Arena boasted six sold-out events including Winter Jam (Mar 29), Taylor Swift (Aug 6), Luke Bryan (Sep 12), Blake Shelton (Oct 5), Eagles (Oct 7), and the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls NBA Preseason game (Oct 23). Furthermore, the arena ended the year ranked as the 39th busiest arena in the U.S. and 80th worldwide according to Pollstar’s Top 200 Arena Venues. The rankings reflect tickets sold worldwide for shows played between 1/1/12 and 12/31/12. Additionally, INTRUST Bank Arena hosted 16 of the Top 100 Worldwide tours, including such acts as Kid Rock (Feb 11), Zac Brown Band (Apr 20), Jason Aldean (May 9), Rascal Flatts (Aug 9), John Mayer (Dec 1), and Trans Siberian Orchestra (Dec 18).
“We are pleased to see the outstanding support for the variety of entertainment events at the INTRUST Bank Arena in 2013,” said Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Dave Unruh. “We know that the INTRUST Bank Arena is a great facility for both performers and event attendees, and SMG works hard to make it a memorable experience for both. We look forward to another successful year of entertainment in 2014.”
INTRUST Bank Arena also set record ticket sales numbers for four separate events in 2013 including Cirque du Soleil (Jan 2-Jan 6), Harlem Globetrotters (Jan 25), Disney On Ice (Mar 14-17) and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (May 30-Jun 2). INTRUST Bank Arena also hosted three events in 2013 which were nationally televised; the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls NBA Preseason game (Oct 23, ESPN), Wichita State University vs. Tennessee men’s basketball game (Dec 14, ESPN2), Kansas State University vs. Gonzaga men’s basketball game (Dec 21, ESPN2).
“We are extremely proud of the many accomplishments of our SMG Team and facility in 2013,” said A.J. Boleski, SMG General Manager. “The shows we’ve hosted and successes we’ve achieved are a direct reflection of the tremendous dedication and performance of our staff and amazing support of the Wichita community in attending a fantastic lineup of shows. As a venue, we are focused on creating a raving experience for all guests who attend events at our facility. It is that experience that contributes to increased ticket sales and enables us to bring many of the top touring acts in the world to Wichita.”
INTRUST Bank Arena hosted 7 additional home playoff games for the Wichita Thunder of the CHL in the months March through May. The Wichita Thunder completed the 2012-2013 season with a record of 39-19-8 and finished as runner up in the CHL Finals. INTRUST Bank Arena was named ‘Best Arena” in the CHL by its players and coaches.
INTRUST Bank Arena’s mission of creating memories through world-class entertainment, one guest at a time, was internationally recognized by the International Association of Venue Managers with its “2013 Venue Excellence Award.” This prestigious award is given annually to only one arena in the world and recognizes the best arena based on four criteria used to demonstrate the ways in which the venue has excelled in the management and operation of a public assembly venue. In November, INTRUST Bank Arena achieved a top 5 ranking in the Venues Today Social Media Power 100 Chart for the first time and ranked 5th among mid-size venues. The chart ranks venues' social media reach using a number of publicly available data points. The chart focuses on four social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Instagram.
Looking ahead in 2014, INTRUST Bank Arena was chosen as one of the select venues to host a stop on George Strait’s “The Cowboy Rides Away” final farewell tour. The venue will also begin planning for their 5-year anniversary which occurs in January of 2015.