Mankato Civic Center

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Mankato Civic Center
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Mankato Civic Center
Location in Minnesota
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Mankato Civic Center
Location in the United States
Former namesMankato Civic Center (1995–1999)
Midwest Wireless Civic Center (1999–2007)
Alltel Center (2007–2009)
Verizon Wireless Center (2009–2017)
Verizon Center (2017–2019)
Location1 Civic Center Plaza
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
Coordinates 44°09′58″N94°00′17″W / 44.166114°N 94.004613°W / 44.166114; -94.004613 Coordinates: 44°09′58″N94°00′17″W / 44.166114°N 94.004613°W / 44.166114; -94.004613
OwnerCity of Mankato
OperatorCity of Mankato
Capacity 5,280 (ice hockey)
8,200 (concerts)
Surface200' x 90' (hockey) [1]
OpenedFebruary 3, 1995
Tenants
Minnesota State Mavericks (NCAA) (1995–present)
Minnesota Purple Rage (IFL) (2000)

The Mankato Civic Center is a 5,280-seat (8,200 for concerts) multi-purpose arena in Mankato, Minnesota, built in 1994 [2] and opened in early 1995. It is home to the Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey team and also hosts musical performances, conventions and other events. Prior to its construction, the team played their home games at All Seasons Arena, which is now their main practice facility.

Arena enclosed area designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events

An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators, and may be covered by a roof. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate a multitude of spectators.

Mankato, Minnesota City in Minnesota, United States

Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the state of Minnesota. The population was 42,610 according to 2018 US census estimates, making it the fifth largest city in Minnesota outside the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is along a large bend of the Minnesota River at its confluence with the Blue Earth River. Mankato is across the Minnesota River from North Mankato. Mankato and North Mankato have a combined population of over 56,500 according to the 2018 census estimates. It completely encompasses the town of Skyline. North of Mankato Regional Airport, a tiny non-contiguous part of the city lies within Le Sueur County. Most of the city is in Blue Earth County.

Minnesota U.S. state in the United States

Minnesota is a state in the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and northern regions of the United States. Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state on May 11, 1858, created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory. The state has many lakes, and is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". Its official motto is L'Étoile du Nord.

Contents

Until April 1, 2019, the arena's naming sponsor was Verizon Communications, one of America's major telecommunications companies.

Verizon Communications American communications company

Verizon Communications Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications conglomerate and a corporate component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is based at 1095 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, but is incorporated in Delaware.

United States Federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe, which is 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the most populous city is New York City. Most of the country is located contiguously in North America between Canada and Mexico.

Inside the Verizon Center Ice Arena before a NCAA Division 1 Hockey Game between the Minnesota State Mavericks and the Michigan Tech Huskies men's teams Verizon Wireless Center Inside.jpg
Inside the Verizon Center Ice Arena before a NCAA Division 1 Hockey Game between the Minnesota State Mavericks and the Michigan Tech Huskies men's teams
The Verizon Center inside before a hockey game event Verizon Wireless Center Inside2.jpg
The Verizon Center inside before a hockey game event

History

In the 1992 general election, Mankato voters approved a 0.5% tax increment to support downtown renovations, including construction of a new sports arena. [3] Construction began in 1994, [2] and the facility opened as the Mankato Civic Center in 1995 with a men's hockey event on February 3. [4] [5] The south side of the complex incorporates the restored exterior of the First National Bank of Mankato, a 1913 Prairie School building.

First National Bank of Mankato United States historic place

The First National Bank of Mankato, also known as the Old First National Bank of Mankato and located at 229 South Front Street in Mankato, Minnesota, United States, is a fine example of Prairie School architecture in a commercial building, relating rural life to the development of downtown Mankato as a regional center of commerce and finance. The recently restored exterior is now part of the Mankato Civic Center, the Verizon Wireless Center.

Prairie School architectural style

Prairie School is a late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural style, most common in the Midwestern United States. The style is usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands, integration with the landscape, solid construction, craftsmanship, and discipline in the use of ornament. Horizontal lines were thought to evoke and relate to the wide, flat, treeless expanses of America's native prairie landscape.

In 1999, locally headquartered phone company Midwest Wireless purchased the naming rights, changing the venue's name to the Midwest Wireless Civic Center. [6]

Midwest Wireless

Midwest Wireless was a wireless telephone company serving southern Minnesota, northern Iowa and western Wisconsin in the United States. The company served roughly 400,000 customers and used CDMA phone technology.

In July 2007, the facility's name changed to the Alltel Center after their acquisition of Midwest Wireless. [7] Alltel paid $110,000 per year for naming rights. [6] [8]

Alltel Former American telecommunications company

Alltel Wireless was a wireless service provider, primarily based in the United States. Before acquisitions by Verizon Wireless and AT&T, it served 34 states and had approximately 13 million subscribers. As a regulatory condition of the acquisition by Verizon, a small portion of Alltel was spun off and continued to operate under the same name in six states, mostly in rural areas. Following the merger, Alltel remained the ninth largest wireless telecommunications company in the United States, with approximately 800,000 customers. On January 22, 2013, AT&T announced they were acquiring what remained of Alltel from Atlantic Tele-Network for $780 million in cash.

Mergers and acquisitions transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations or their operating units are transferred or combined

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations, or their operating units are transferred or consolidated with other entities. As an aspect of strategic management, M&A can allow enterprises to grow or downsize, and change the nature of their business or competitive position.

In 2009, the name changed again, this time to the Verizon Wireless Center, after Alltel was acquired by Verizon Wireless. [6]

In 2015, an expansion of the facility began with the purchase and demolition of the adjacent US Bank building. Construction was completed the following year, and the additional space with room for up to 2,000 more people opened on September 1, 2016. [9] [10] The name of the new facility was originally intended to be the Event Center, but prior to opening the City of Mankato decided to call it the Performing Arts Center instead to better reflect the anticipated usage primarily for musical and theatrical events. [11]

In 2017, Verizon dropped "Wireless" from the name and the facility became simply the Verizon Center. [12] The Performing Arts Center was also renamed the Grand Hall later in the year.

In March 2019, it was announced that Verizon would not be renewing its naming rights agreement. On April 1, 2019, the facility's name reverted to Mankato Civic Center, and will remain so until a naming rights agreement is signed with a new sponsor. [13] [14]

Events

Primarily, the Center hosts hockey games, concerts and conventions.

Notable past artists and events include Aerosmith, Disney Live, Elton John, James Taylor, Jeff Dunham, John Mellencamp, Kenny Rogers, KISS, Monster Jam, Tom Petty and WWE Live. [15]

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Minnesota State University, Mankato public comprehensive university in Mankato, Minnesota

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References

  1. ↑ Fredericks, Shane (31 August 2013). "Changes taking shape at Verizon Center hockey rink". Mankato Free Press . Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 Fischenich, Mark (23 Feb 2012). "Mankato group plugs civic center funding in Legislature". Mankato Free Press . Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  3. ↑ City of West St. Paul (23 April 2018). "Local Sales Taxes in Minnesota". p. 15. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. ↑ Weber, Tom (2 February 1995). "Civic center puts Mankato on entertainment map". Post-Bulletin . Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Significant Dates in Minnesota State Men's Hockey History". Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Alltel Center to get name change". Mankato Free Press . 24 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  7. ↑ Alltel Press Release. Alltel. 10 July 2007. Accessed 10 July 2007. Archived 12 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Linehan, Dan (25 June 2007). "Civic center to be Alltel Center". Mankato Free Press . Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  9. ↑ Fischenich, Mark (29 July 2016). "Event/Performing Arts Center grand opening set". Mankato Free Press . Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  10. ↑ Verizon Center. "Facilities". www.VerizonCenterMN.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  11. ↑ Fischenich, Mark (27 August 2016). "Performing Arts Center took a drama-filled path". Mankato Free Press. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  12. ↑ "Out with the old... In with the new. We're changing our logo & dropping the 'wireless'!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 7 April 2017.[ dead link ]
  13. ↑ Fischenich, Mark (16 March 2019). "Dumped by Verizon, Mankato civic center may have other naming-rights suitors". Mankato Free Press . Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  14. ↑ Barchenger, Kelsey. "Naming Rights Agreement Between City Of Mankato, Verizon Center Expires". KEYC. KEYC. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  15. ↑ Dyslin, Amanda (28 August 2007). "Mellencamp to play Alltel". Mankato Free Press . Retrieved 20 March 2019.


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