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Fort Worth Convention Center

Coordinates: Mapper 2.0 32°44′56″N 97°19′40″W / 32.749°N 97.3277°W / 32.749; -97.3277
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Fort Worth Convention Center
Exterior of convention center, c.2008
Map
Address12 Houston St
Fort Worth, TX 76102-6432
LocationSundance Square, Downtown Fort Worth
OwnerCity of Fort Worth
OperatorFort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau
ArchitectPreston M. Geren Sr.
OpenedSeptember 30, 1968
Renovated1983, 2003
Construction cost
$5.5 million
($50.3 million in 2023 dollars[1])
Former names
Tarrant County Convention Center (1968-97)
Banquet/ballroom4,210 (Water Garden Events Plaza)
3,544 (FWCC Ballroom)
Theatre seating
13,500 (FWCC Arena)
Enclosed space
 • Exhibit hall floor227,613 square feet (21,145.9 m2)
 • Breakout/meeting58,849 square feet (5,467.3 m2)
 • Ballroom109,120 square feet (10,138 m2)
Website
Official Website

The Fort Worth Convention Center (formerly known as the Tarrant County Convention Center) is a convention center and indoor arena located in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The complex opened on September 30, 1968, and was expanded in 1983, 2002 and 2003.[2][3]

Background

Interior of arena

The complex was proposed by county officials in 1961 as a competitor to the Dallas Convention Center and approved in 1967. Over 14 city blocks (previously known as "Hell's Half Acre") were demolished to make way for the new facility that opened in 1968. The building is noted for the indoor arena, resembling a flying saucer. In 1997 the City of Fort Worth purchased the facilities and properties, changing the complex's name to the Fort Worth Convention Center. In 2000 the JFK Theatre was demolished to make way for the Water Garden Events Plaza. In 2014 the city proposed to demolish the aging arena for an additional meeting space.[4]

In January 2020, plans to demolish the Convention Center's arena were confirmed by the Fort Worth City Council. In addition to the arena's demolition, the plans also include straightening Commerce Street, building a 1,000 seat hotel and adding over 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, with groundbreaking intended for 2022 or 2023.[5]

Notable events

Elvis Presley performed there on June 18, 1972. He returned for two dates on June 15 and 16, 1974, doing an afternoon and evening show on each day at the arena. He returned again on June 3 and July 3, 1976.[6]

The concert movie Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones was partially filmed during two June 24, 1972, shows (matinee and evening) at the arena during the Rolling Stones' 1972 Tour of America.[7]

Bob Dylan's highly successful 1974 "comeback tour" featuring The Band played the facility on January 25, 1974. Dylan played two more shows there on May 16, 1976, and November 24, 1978.[8]

On May 3, 1976, Paul McCartney and Wings opened the North American leg of the Wings Over the World tour at the arena.[9]

On November 3, 1976, and again on July 7 and 8, 1977, Eagles performed three sold-out shows as part of their 1976-1978 Hotel California Tour at the arena.[10]

On May 1, 1977, Pink Floyd played a show on the In the Flesh Tour at the arena which has surfaced on bootleg over the years.[11]

February 27, 1977 was selected as the first date of the Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1977 at the arena, but that tour was delayed in starting. The rescheduled Fort Worth date was May 22, 1977.[12]

July 28, 1978, Bob Marley and The Wailers played at the convention center as part of their Kaya Tour.

On June 28, 1979, The Bee Gees kicked off their Spirits Having Flown Tour which was filmed for The Bee Gees Special that aired later in the year on NBC.[13]

On November 23 and 24, 1987, U2 performed two sold-out shows as part of their Joshua Tree tour. Parts of the second show were filmed and appeared in the feature film "Rattle and Hum", a documentary of the tour. The song "When Love Comes to Town" featuring B.B. King was prominent in the film.[14][15][16]

The Metallica concert video Cunning Stunts was recorded at the Fort Worth Convention Center on May 9–10, 1997, toward the end of the Poor Touring Me tour.[17]

On February 26, 2016, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump held a rally for his campaign at the convention center.[18]

On September 15 & 16, 2018, the South Korean group BTS held two concerts as part of their Love Yourself Tour.[19]

On May 8, 2019, the South Korean group Blackpink held a concert as part of their In Your Area World Tour.[20]

Sports

For a time in 1970–71, it hosted home games for the Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association.[21] During the 1990s, the building was home to the Fort Worth Fire and Fort Worth Brahmas ice hockey teams, as well as the Arena Football League's Fort Worth Cavalry. From 2005 to 2007, it was home to the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League. In 2020, it hosted the home games for the North Texas Bulls out of the American Arena League.

The arena also hosted the 1992 Davis Cup final, which saw the United States defeat Switzerland.

The 2018 National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC) held their 30th annual National Championships at the convention center.[22]

Preceded by Davis Cup
Final Venue
1992 		Succeeded by

Mapper 2.0 32°44′56″N 97°19′40″W / 32.749°N 97.3277°W / 32.749; -97.3277

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX". Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "Tarrant County Convention Center Vintage Postcard". Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Fox, Laurie (January 31, 2015). "Fort Worth project will build more spacious arena next door to beloved Will Rogers Coliseum". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  5. ^ Ranker, Luke (January 17, 2020). "Fort Worth will demolish arena for convention center expansion". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Elvis Concert List - 1974". Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Spitz, Marc (October 11, 2010). "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones Finally Gets the DVD Treatment". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Bob Dylan: Setlists at Tarrant County Convention Center Arena". bobdylan.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "Wings Over the World Tour: Sep 9, 1975 to Oct 21, 1976". the-paulmccartney-project.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "1976-1978 Hotel California Tour". Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  11. ^ "In The Flesh-A Look at the US Tour 1977". Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. ^ "Led Zeppelin Timeline: May 22, 1977". ledzeppelin.com. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Andrew Môn Hughes; Hector Cook; Melinda Bilyeu (2000). The Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1780387407.
  14. ^ "Joshua Tree, November 23, 1987". u2.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  15. ^ "Joshua Tree, November 24, 1987". u2.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  16. ^ Pimm Jal de la Parra (1994). U2 Live: A Concert Documentary. p. 118. ISBN 0711991987.
  17. ^ "Cunning Stunts". metallica.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  18. ^ "Trump holds rally in Fort Worth". Wfaa.com. 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  19. ^ "BTS marches to K-pop beat, but their loyal ARMY steals Saturday night's show". star-telegram. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  20. ^ Salazar, Maritza (February 12, 2019). "BLACKPINK Announce 2019 In Your Area Tour: Dates and Tickets". vividseats.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  21. ^ Bradley, Robert. "Dallas Chaparrals (1967-68 to 1972-73) Year-to-Year Notes". Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  22. ^ "NAIGC Concludes Record Setting 2018 National Championships". usagym.org. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
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