Dickies Arena will promote Fort Worth as ‘important city for business and culture’
Dickies Arena is officially open for business.
A slew of Fort Worth dignitaries, including council members, business leaders and Mayor Betsy Price, helped usher in a new era for the city Saturday morning.
About 2,000 people were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the 14,000-seat, $540 million arena.
Billionaire Ed Bass, the leader among private donors who helped pay for more than half of the costs (the city paid $225 million), took those in attendance on a historical journey back to 1996, when the idea was first conceived.
Bass used an architectural site plan for a proposed arena from Oct. 3, 1996, to illustrate the long history of the plan, through multiple mayors, economic recessions and various other obstacles.
“This is the vision drawn 23 years ago,” Bass told the crowd. The original plan was to expand the Will Rogers Coliseum.
“We expanded it, all right — on steroids,” he said. “In Fort Worth, we know how to focus on quality. Our cultural district is a reflection of this.”
Price joked that the arena was so beautiful inside that she didn’t want anyone eating popcorn or cotton candy.
During her remarks from the stage, a small group of protesters paraded in front of her, chanting, “We don’t feel safe.” They carried a banner with the same message. The crowd mostly watched in silence as the protesters were ushered off by security. The interruption lasted less than 30 seconds, and the crowd cheered when Price resumed her remarks.
It was an emotional day for Bass, who emphasized the arena was built for all of Fort Worth.
“Every community. Much like Bass Hall, it is meant for everyone,” he said. “I think we will help people wake up to the fact that Fort Worth is its own city — it’s a big city, 13th largest in the U.S. — and it’s an important city for business and culture.”
Taxes on tickets, parking and livestock facilities will help pay off the city’s investment. Because the arena’s operator, Trail Drive Management, is a nonprofit, any gain from ticket sales will go toward the upkeep.
“So many people have done so much, it makes me grateful deep in my heart of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Bass said. “This is the finest multi-purpose arena in America, bar none.”
This story was originally published October 26, 2019 at 2:30 PM.
