Ford Park

Last updated
Ford Park
Ford Arena Beaumont Texas June 2014.jpg
Ford Park
Address5115 Interstate 10 South
Beaumont, Texas, 77705
United States
Coordinates 30°0′35.6″N94°10′51.2″W / 30.009889°N 94.180889°W / 30.009889; -94.180889
Owner Jefferson County, Texas
Operator OVG360
Capacity Arena: 9,737
Pavilion: 14,000
Construction
Opened2003
Construction cost$75 million [1]
ArchitectLong Architects, Inc.
General contractorAllco Construction LLC.
Website
Venue Website

Ford Park is a 221-acre multi-purpose entertainment complex consisting of an arena, exhibit hall, amphitheater, midway, and 12 youth baseball fields located on I-10 South in Beaumont, Texas. The complex opened in 2003. It is owned by Jefferson County, Texas and operated by OVG360, a division of the Oak View Group. It is the home of the South Texas State Fair.

Contents

In 2020, Jefferson County began negotiations to sell Ford Park to Renaissance Development Group, which would add a hotel and a horse-racing track to the complex. [2] The deal fell through in 2022 after Renaissance failed to put additional earnest money towards the $22 million sale price. [3]

The Southeast Texas Ford Dealers have held the naming rights to the complex since 2003, [4] a deal which will expire at the end of 2022. [5]

Facilities

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 New York World's Fair</span> Event held in New York City

The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair was a world's fair that held over 140 pavilions and 110 restaurants representing 80 nations, 24 U.S. states, and over 45 corporations with the goal and the final result of building exhibits or attractions at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. The immense fair covered 646 acres (2.61 km2) on half the park, with numerous pools or fountains, and an amusement park with rides near the lake. However, the fair did not receive official support or approval from the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaumont, Texas</span> City in the State of Texas

Beaumont is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the seat of government of Jefferson County, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan statistical area, located in Southeast Texas on the Neches River about 85 miles (137 km) east of Houston. With a population of 115,282 at the 2020 census, Beaumont is the largest incorporated municipality by population near the Louisiana border. Its metropolitan area was the 10th largest in Texas in 2020, and 130th in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 World's Fair</span> 1982 international exposition in Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.

The 1982 World's Fair, officially known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition (KIEE) and simply as Energy Expo '82 and Expo '82, was an international exposition held in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Focused on energy and electricity generation, with the theme Energy Turns the World, it was officially registered as a "World's Fair" by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HemisFair '68</span> Worlds Fair held in San Antonio, Texas

HemisFair '68 was the official 1968 World's Fair held in San Antonio, Texas, from April 6 through October 6, 1968. Local businessman and civic leader, Jerome K. Harris Sr., coined the name HemisFair and conceived the idea for the fair, hoping it would unite all the cultures that comprise San Antonio and solidify the city's reputation as a cultural and historic destination. With help from commissioner Henry B. Gonzales and other San Antonio leaders, the fair materialized and helped transform the city from a cowtown to one of the largest cities in the country. The theme of the fair was "The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas", celebrating the many nations which settled the region. The fair was held in 1968 to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio in 1718. More than thirty nations and fifteen corporations hosted pavilions at the fair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State Fair</span> American state fair

The North Carolina State Fair is an American state fair and agricultural exposition held annually in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1853, the fair is organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It attracts around a million visitors over eleven days in mid-October.

The South Texas State Fair is an annual regional state fair held in Beaumont, Texas. The fair features a livestock show, a commercial exhibition, and a carnival Midway. Food concessions are a major attraction of the fair. Reflecting Beaumont's location in Southeast Texas, normal carnival foods can be found alongside barbecue, Tex-Mex, and Cajun foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Arena</span>

The Ford Arena is a 9,737-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas, USA. The arena has 34,000 sq ft of exhibit space available for conventions and exhibitions. It also includes 7 production offices, 3 dressing rooms, a 2,448 sq ft VIP Club, a 1,107 sq ft party patio, concession stands, and restrooms. It is part of a larger suburban municipal complex called Ford Park. It is currently managed by OVG360, a division of Oak View Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montagne Center</span>

Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at theMontagne Center, built in 1984, is a mixed-use event center that houses a 10,746-seat a multi-purpose arena and a variety of event spaces in Beaumont, Texas. The Montagne Center was designed especially for the basketball program with a wing designated for instructional purposes. The Montagne Center is currently home to the Lamar University Cardinals, the Lady Cardinals basketball teams, and the Lamar University Pathway Program, Lamar University's language program. The arena was previously the home of the Lady Cardinals volleyball team until renovations to McDonald Gym were completed in 2006–07. The Montagne's instructional area has been home to Lamar's language program since 2010 when the Lamar Language Institute (LLI) first moved there, then transitioned to TIEP at Lamar in 2011, and became the Lamar University Language Program (LUPP) in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex</span> Architectural structure

The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex is an entertainment, sports, and convention complex located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama's Uptown Entertainment District. The Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham are located on the campus adjoining the convention center. Alongside over 220,000 square feet of exhibit halls, meeting space, and ballrooms, the complex features four entertainment venues: a stadium, an arena, concert hall, and theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds</span> Event venue in Columbus, Ohio


The Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds is an exhibition center and fairground site, located in Columbus, Ohio. The site has been home to the Ohio State Fair since 1886.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaumont Civic Center</span>

The Beaumont Civic Center, in downtown Beaumont, Texas, is a 6,500-seat arena where concerts, conventions, trade shows and exhibitions are held. Banquet maximum capacity is 2,000. It has 29,300 square feet (2,720 m2) of ground-level exhibit space and 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) space on the second level for a combined space of 41,300 square feet (3,840 m2). The building includes four dressing rooms with showers. 850 parking spots are onsite. The venue is part of the Beaumont Civic Center Complex. This complex includes the Civic Center, Julie Rogers Theater and the Jefferson Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamar Cardinals and Lady Cardinals</span> Texas college athletics team

The Lamar Cardinals and Lady Cardinals refers to the college athletics teams of Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. The Cardinals and Lady Cardinals teams compete in seventeen NCAA Division I sports as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals rejoined the Southland after spending the 2021–22 athletic year in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

In the U.S. state of Georgia, the Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is the unit of Cobb county government which handles county parks, recreation facilities, and cultural affairs programs.

Downtown Beaumont is the central business district of Beaumont, Texas. It is where the city's highrise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region. Downtown Beaumont is currently experiencing a renaissance, with streets, sidewalks and historic buildings receiving significant attention.

The Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team competes in the Southland Conference. The Lady Cardinals are currently led by head coach Amy Hooks. The team played its home games at the off–campus Ford Park for the first two seasons following the program restart in 2013. The Lady Cardinals began playing home games at the Lamar Softball Complex located on the university's campus starting with the 2015 season.

The 2013–14 Texas Strikers season was the second season of the Texas Strikers professional indoor soccer club. The Texas Strikers, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games at Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. The team was led by general manager and head coach Chris "Topper" Cogan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamar Softball Complex</span>

The Lamar Softball Complex, built in 2014–15 on the campus of Lamar University, is the home stadium for the Division I (NCAA) Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team. The stadium is located next to the Lamar Soccer Complex. The initial home game was played in the partially completed stadium with temporary spectator seating on March 6, 2015 against the Houston Baptist Huskies softball team. The current grandstands were built following the 2014–15 season's conclusion.

The 2014–15 Oxford City FC of Texas season was the third season for the Beaumont, Texas-based professional indoor soccer franchise. Founded as the Texas Strikers in 2012, new ownership rebranded the team as Oxford City FC of Texas in July 2014.

The Lamar Dixon Expo Center is a multi-purpose event center in Gonzales, Louisiana built in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamar Soccer Complex</span>

The Lamar Soccer Complex, built in 2009 on the campus of Lamar University, is a soccer facility located in Beaumont, Texas. It is the home stadium for the Division I (NCAA) Lamar Lady Cardinals soccer team. The stadium has a permanent seating capacity of 500. Stadium features include covered benches for both the home and visiting teams, lighting, and a programmable fertilization and irrigation system. Construction of the stadium began on June 15, 2009. Construction cost of the soccer field and adjacent Lamar Soccer and Softball Complex building was $3,724,920. The stadium and supporting Lamar Soccer and Softball Complex building were part of a $29 million athletic construction project.

References

  1. Dan Wallach (October 4, 2016). "Ford Park to get new manager, county decides". Beaumont Enterprise. Hearst Newspapers II, LLC . Retrieved October 19, 2016. The park cost $75 million to build, with $42 million in outstanding debt. Final payment is supposed to be made by 2025.
  2. Kersey, Rachel (2022-01-18). "Ford Park sale gets hard deadline". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  3. "Jefferson County commissioners unanimously vote to void sale of Ford Park". 12newsnow.com. March 29, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  4. Park, Ford. "Ford Park Entertainment Complex Renews Naming Rights | Ford Park". www.fordpark.com. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  5. KFDM/FOX4 (2022-04-01). "Ford Park naming rights to expire at the end of the year". KFDM. Retrieved 2022-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Faye, Matt (2021-06-03). "Beaumont could finally have a pro team". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  7. "Ford Park Entertainment Complex". Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2019.