For Immediate Release
April 18, 2017
(Fort Worth) – Less than an hour after a surprise naming rights announcement at Dickies Arena “Let The Dirt Fly” groundbreaking ceremony, Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth broke news of major future events at the venue.
Dickies Arena was named as a host for the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds. Additionally, Fort Worth will be the host city for four years for NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, beginning in 2019. The event will be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center for the first year and will move to Fort Worth Arena in 2020 for the remaining years.
“Together with the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, Texas Christian University, Texas Woman’s University and our partners at Knight Eady, we are excited to announce that Dickies Arena was selected to host multiple major NCAA events,” said Matt Homan, Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth’s president and general manager.
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships are the second and third announced events at the venue. Fort Worth Arena was announced as the new home to Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performances beginning in 2020.
“This is another testament to the fantastic partnership that TCU has with the City of Fort Worth,” said Chris Del Conte, TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “Now with the new Dickies Arena coming to fruition, Fort Worth is an incredibly attractive host site for many NCAA Championships, which will certainly benefit TCU student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
“Texas Woman’s is excited to once again serve as the host institution for this prestigious national championship,” said Chalese Connors, director of athletics, Texas Woman’s University. “With our experienced partners from Knight Eady Sports Group and the Fort Worth CVB, we know that the student-athletes and their fans will enjoy the best in NCAA women’s collegiate gymnastics in a highly competitive and thrilling environment. We’re honored to help bring this event back to Texas.”
The Fort Worth CVB was recognized nationally for hosting the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships in 2015 and 2016.
2022 marks the first time since 1970 that Fort Worth has hosted NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament games.
“Fort Worth is a great sports city,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of the Fort Worth CVB. “With TCU, this incredible new arena and our incredible Sundance Square downtown, we look forward to rolling out the red carpet for sports fans.”
“Our team at Knight Eady is honored to host the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championship in 2019-2022 and welcome the top collegiate women’s gymnastics programs to Fort Worth, Texas, said David Knight, CEO of Knight Eady. “We look forward to partnering with Texas Woman’s University, the Fort Worth CVB and the NCAA to provide an exceptional and memorable experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
Dickies Arena is scheduled to open in November 2019 and will bring a variety of programming, including concerts, family shows, sporting events, community and school events, and more, to the area. Additionally, it will be the new home of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
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Dickies Arena will be a 14,000 seat, spectacular multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. The arena will be owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for-profit operating entity, Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth (MAFW). The state-of-the-art arena, scheduled to open in November 2019, will host concerts, sporting events and family entertainment, and will be the new home to Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performances. For more information, visit www.DickiesArena.com.
CONTACT:
Alissa Cunningham
acunningham@fwarena.com
816.769.2234
