It’s not enough to describe the sleek curves and artistic angles of the new, gleaming $127.5 million Ford Center at the corner of Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It is a marvel that must be seen. Generous glass windows reflect surrounding Downtown venues such as the Centre and the Victory Theatre, instilling a sense of place. Numerous concession areas, comfortably padded seats with unobstructed views, upscale lounges and suites, and an updated version of the Corridor of Champions (sponsored by Hilliard Lyons and showcasing the city’s rich basketball history) represent the culmination of a 23-month endeavor that broadens Evansville’s skyline and offers the promise of economic growth.
With calendar dates booking fast, the Ford Center is home hardwood to University of Evansville basketball (we’ll play NCAA national champions Butler on Nov. 12), and home ice for Evansville’s professional hockey team, the IceMen. Big name concert acts – opening headliner Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and Lady Antebellum – are announcing stops in Evansville. Downtown businesses are making investments and hanging out new shingles, banking that the Ford Center will bring more customers and greater profits in early 2012.
Along with the thrill comes a bittersweet ending to Roberts Stadium’s 55-year run as Evansville’s main entertainment venue. While Roberts served us well for many years, we look forward to enjoying many events in the city’s biggest and boldest attraction, the Ford Center.
Read more from our Ford Center feature:
• Out With the Old, In With the New – A photo comparison of Roberts Stadium and the Ford Center.
• By The Numbers – Noteworthy facts about the Ford Center.
• Where to Eat Now – Dinner choices abound within a mile of the Ford Center.
