The Taylor County Expo Center, formerly Taylor County Coliseum, is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Abilene, Texas. [1] It was built in 1973. [2]
The Expo Center is the former home of the Abilene Aviators, of the Western Professional Hockey League. In 2015, it was announced as the home venue for the Abilene Warriors of American Indoor Football for their inaugural 2016 season. However, prior to their first game, the lease was cancelled due to a "breach of contract" and the Warriors announced they would play their first game in Snyder, Texas. [3]
Elvis Presley played a soldout show here on March 27, 1977 to 7500 fans. He also played a soldout show at the old Expo Center October 9th 1974.
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 143,208. Its county seat is Abilene. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1878. It is named for Edward Taylor, George Taylor, and James Taylor, three brothers who died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Buffalo Gap is a town in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 543 at the 2020 census. It is the former county seat of Taylor County, having been supplanted in 1883 by the much larger Abilene to its north. Abilene won the referendum to be the county seat by a vote of 905–269.
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones Counties, Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 176,579 as of 2020. Abilene is home to three Christian universities: Abilene Christian University, McMurry University, and Hardin–Simmons University. It is the county seat of Taylor County. Dyess Air Force Base is located on the west side of the city.
Oakland Arena is an indoor arena located in Oakland, California, United States. From its opening in 1966 until 1996, it was known as the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. After a major renovation completed in 1997, the arena was renamed The Arena in Oakland until 2005 and Oracle Arena from 2006 to 2019. It is often referred to as the Oakland Coliseum Arena as it is part of the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Complex with the adjacent Oakland Coliseum. Oakland Arena seats 19,596 fans for basketball.
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Nationals Park, located on South Capitol Street in the Navy Yard neighborhood of the Southeast quadrant of D.C. along the Anacostia River.
Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of downtown Abilene, Texas, and 150 miles (240 km) west of Fort Worth, Texas.
McMurry University is a private Methodist university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1923 and named after William Fletcher McMurry. The university offers forty-five majors in the fields of fine arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, education, business, and religion, and nine pre-professional programs, including nursing, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary, and law.
DeSagana N'gagne Diop is a Senegalese former professional basketball player who is head coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.
The Payne Arena is a multi-purpose complex, in Hidalgo, Texas. It was formerly known as Dodge Arena from 2003 until February 2010, State Farm Arena from 2010 to September 2018, and then State Farm Hidalgo Arena for one year.
Hardin–Simmons University (HSU) is a private Baptist university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
The Wylie Independent School District is a public school district based in the far southern portion of Abilene, Texas, United States. In order to avoid confusion with the Wylie Independent School District in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex suburb of Wylie, the district is commonly referred to as Abilene Wylie. In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.
The Abilene Bombers were a professional indoor football team. The Bombers played their home games at the Taylor County Expo Center, in Abilene, Texas.
The Grace Museum is located in Abilene, Texas, United States. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The Grace Museum houses five art galleries featuring rotating art exhibitions and artwork from the permanent collection; a history gallery with permanent and rotating exhibits featuring Abilene, Taylor County, and West Texas artifacts; an art library; an education center and an interactive gallery for children and families. The Abilene Fine Arts Museum was founded in 1937 by the Art League of the Abilene Woman's Club. The art museum was housed in various downtown locations and Rose Park before the current facility was renovated in 1992. Since 1992, the museum has existed as The Museums of Abilene, Grace Cultural Center and the name was officially changed to The Grace Museum in 1998.
KFYO is a commercial AM radio station in Lubbock, Texas. It airs a news/talk radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. Its studios are on 82nd Street in southwest Lubbock.
Abilene High School is a public high school located in Abilene, Texas. AHS is classified as a Division 5A school and is part of the Abilene Independent School District. Abilene High School is the name given to three different schools in the past 150 years. The first Abilene High was an old warehouse. Not long after that, the school was moved to what was the former Lincoln Middle School. In 1955, Abilene High was moved to its current location at N 6th and Mockingbird. Its main rival in sports is Cooper High School. The Abilene High Marching Band is accepted to be the oldest marching band in Texas. In 2011, the school was rated "Academically Acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.
Hendrick Health is a not-for-profit healthcare provider located in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Wylie High School is a public high school located in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is the sole high school of the Wylie Independent School District. Wylie ISD serves the southernmost areas of Abilene, as well as the ever-growing suburbs and exurbs in east central Taylor County. WHS is one of three class 5A high schools within the city limits of Abilene, joining Abilene Independent School District schools Abilene High and Abilene Cooper. In 2008, Wylie High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency. In 2017, the school reported an enrollment of 1,164, putting it 14 students above the number needed to realign to conference 5A.
Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as Childers Classical Institute. It is affiliated with Churches of Christ.
Blue Sox Stadium was a ballpark located in Abilene, Texas and was the home to the Abilene Blue Sox of the West Texas–New Mexico League (1946–1955) and the Big State League (1956–1957). The park was located on the northeast corner of Barrow and South 14th streets; at the present time, the site is home to the H-E-B grocery store.
The 2010 Abilene Ruff Riders season was the team's fourth season as a professional indoor football franchise and second in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of twenty-five teams competing in the IFL for the 2010 season, the Abilene, Texas-based Abilene Ruff Riders were members of the Lonestar West Division of the Intense Conference.