en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:20:28 GMT 15 By Hillary Caceres
Corpus Christi’s American Bank Center opened in the fall of last year. Since then it has given the city a spark of excitement of hosting major concerts with big names such as Cher, 3 Doors Down and Snoop Dogg, big athletic events like Champions on Ice and Ice Rayz games, and large gatherings such as graduations, dances, rodeos and heath fairs. “We are providing a first class facility and it has improved and developed downtown Corpus Christi.” Xavier Villalon, the American Bank Center’s director of marketing and sales said. An increased amount of concerts have come to the area which gives the community something to look forward to. “I am so excited that we have more concerts here in the area,” Freshman, Heather Ireland said,“Now I don’t have to drive all the way to San Antonio and I can go to more of them.” The arena has supplied a new and improved home for our hometown sports teams such as Corpus Christi Rayz hockey team, Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi Islander basketball teams, the Hammerheads, the intense football league, and WWE RAW wrestling. The new building has given a fresh start to the Hammerheads this season. The intense football team had a small amount of space last season when the much smaller Memorial Coliseum hosted their home games. Fans are thrilled to have a new and improved stadium where they can cheer and support their favorite teams. With games like men’s and woman’s basketball, hockey and arena football, fans have a better experience cheering on Corpus’ entertainment industry. “The main thing the arena has done for sports is that it has given the games more fans.” junior, Adam Legamaro said. The center has created a positive economic effect for Corpus Christi. The facility has attracted more tourists to the city which has given downtown hotels and restaurants opportunities for business. Not to mention the boost for jobs as ticket and food vendors, cashiers, security, and maintence crews For the Executive Surf Club, a down town business and club, the arena has given the club a boost of industry. “We can see an increased amount of business because of the arena,” Roland Gomez, general manager of the Executive Surf Club said. “There is always a rush of people before major concerts and sports events.” The facility’s first concert, Cher’s Farewell Tour had a sell out crowd of 8,000 fans. This huge event had concert goers nervous about the amount of space that could be provided for parking. However, parking concerns were solved when The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority’s Bay front Express created a park-and-ride shuttle service. The American Bank Center has given Corpus Christi an increase in tourism, an economic boost for the city, more money for big businesses and just another reason to enjoy the sparkling city by the sea that we live in. Up coming events at the American Bank Center include Buc Days rodeos, Hammerhead arena football games, 80’s hair band Motley Crue, comedian George Carlin, and singer Juan Gabriel. ]]> Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:07:00 GMT