Tony's Pizza Events Center

{{Short description|Arena in Salina, Kansas}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Tony's Pizza Events Center

| nickname = Bi Center, Mid-America's Meeting Place

| logo_image = Tony’s Pizza Events Center logo.png

| image =

| caption =

| pushpin_map = Kansas#USA

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Kansas##Location within the United States

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_label = Tony's Pizza Events Center

| location = 800 The Midway
Salina, Kansas 67401

| coordinates = {{coord|38.8346300|-97.5994896|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}

| broke_ground = 1977{{cite news|last1=Curran|first1=Julie|title=Motels grow to meet expected demand created by BiCenter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/17843160/|accessdate=February 26, 2017|work=The Salina Journal|date=January 25, 1979|location=Salina, Kansas |pages=25 |language=en}}

| opened = June 2, 1979{{cite news|last1=Demuth|first1=Gary|title=As Salina ages, the Bicentennial Center gets a facelift |url=http://www.salina.com/special_editions/progress_2/as-salina-ages-the-bicentennial-center-gets-a-facelift/article_f476429d-ad9a-5f4f-940c-1bc492400eb6.html |accessdate=February 26, 2017|work=Salina Journal|date=February 22, 2015|language=en}}

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = City of Salina

| operator = OVG360{{cite web |title=Tony's Pizza Events Center - About Us |url=http://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/about-us |website=tonyspizzaeventscenter.com |access-date=16 April 2023}}

| surface =

| construction_cost =

| architect =

| general_contractor =

| seating_capacity = 7,583{{cite web|title=SALINA DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION: STAR BOND PROJECT PLAN|url=http://www.salina-ks.gov/filestorage/18394/18516/26070/3_-_STAR_Bond_Project_Plan.pdf|website=salina-ks.gov|publisher=City of Salina|accessdate=February 26, 2017|page=125|date=June 21, 2016}}

| former_names = Bicentennial Center (1979–2017)

| tenants = Kansas Cagerz (USBL) (1999–2007)
Salina Rattlers (IBA) (2000–2001)
Salina Bombers (CPIFL/CIF) (2013–2015)
Salina Liberty (CIF/AFL/AF1) (2016–present)
Salina Saints (ABA) (2016–2019)

}}

The Bicentennial Center, currently known as Tony's Pizza Events Center, is located in Salina, Kansas, United States. It includes a 7,583-seat multipurpose arena, meeting rooms and Heritage Hall, an 18,000 square foot convention center. It is home of the Salina Liberty of Arena Football One, and is nicknamed Mid-America's Meeting Place. The City of Salina is the primary owner of the center. Spectra manages the center as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world.

History

The first concert at the center was The Osmonds, on June 2, 1979. The concert sold out, and there was a crowd of 7,300.{{cite news|first1=Nate|last1=Jenkins|title=20 YEARS OF SALINA BICENTENNIAL CENTER: Concerts have made center popular|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/2267884/|accessdate=February 26, 2017|work=Newspapers.com|date=September 19, 1999|location=Salina, Kansas|page=5|language=en}}

A variety of events are held at the events center, including concerts, family shows, sport events, trade shows, and conventions. Annual events include: Salina Invitational Basketball Tournament, Salina Home & Leisure Show, Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) 4A Wrestling, Basketball and Volleyball State Tournaments, National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women's Division I Basketball National Championship, Mid-America Farm Expo, Shrine Circus, Tri-Rivers Fair, and commencements for Salina Area Technical College, Brown Mackie College, and USD 305.

The arena has been home to five professional sports franchises: the Kansas Cagerz of the United States Basketball League (1999–2007), the Salina Rattlers of the International Basketball Association (2000–2001), the Salina Bombers of the Champions Indoor Football league (2013–2015), the Salina Liberty, also of the CIF (2016–present), and the Salina Saints of the American Basketball Association (2016–2019).

On February 22, 2017, the center was renamed from Salina Bicentennial Center to Tony's Pizza Event Center, described as "the largest pizza facility in the world.” Tony's Pizza, a food service subsidiary of Schwan Food Company, paid $1.2 million to receive comprehensive naming rights for 15 years.{{cite web |last1=Montague |first1=Sharon |date=February 22, 2017 |title=BiCenter to be called Tony's Pizza Events Center |url=http://www.salina.com/news/local/bicenter-to-be-called-tony-s-pizza-event-center/article_e0f189a6-de16-5ef3-9ddd-ed3160997abd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226132525/http://www.salina.com/news/local/bicenter-to-be-called-tony-s-pizza-event-center/article_e0f189a6-de16-5ef3-9ddd-ed3160997abd.html |archive-date=2017-02-26 |accessdate=February 25, 2017 |website=Salina Journal |language=en}}

=Name=

It has undergone the following name changes since it opened:

  • Bicentennial Center (original name in 1979 to 2017)
  • Tony's Pizza Events Center (2017 to current)

References

{{Reflist}}