Bismarck Event Center
The Bismarck Event Center (formerly Bismarck Civic Center) is a 10,100-seat multi-purpose facility located in Bismarck, North Dakota. It was known as the Bismarck Civic Center until September 2014.[4] Ritterbush Brothers received an Award of Merit for the design from AIA North Dakota in 1970.[5]
  Bismarck Event Center Location within North Dakota  Bismarck Event Center Location within the United States | |
| Former names | Bismarck Civic Center (1969–2014) |
|---|---|
| Location | Bismarck, North Dakota |
| Public transit |  Bis-Man Transit |
| Capacity | 10,100 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1967[1] |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Architect | Ritterbush Brothers[2] |
| Builder | Anderson, Guthrie & Carlson[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Dakota Wizards (IBA/CBA/NBA D-League) (1995–2012) Bismarck Bobcats (AFHL) (1997–1998) Bismarck Blaze (IFL) (2000) Bismarck Bucks (IFL) (2017–present) | |
The land was purchased from the Wachter family of Bismarck, who also donated land for parking lots adjacent to the civic center. The Wachters then developed the adjacent Kirkwood Mall on their land south of the arena.[6]
It was the home of the Dakota Wizards of the Continental Basketball Association and NBA Development League. It also hosted the 2002 Ford World Men's Curling Championship. For several years, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has hosted a Touring Pro Division (minor-league division, formerly known as the Challenger Tour) event at the Civic Center; in 2004, it was voted as the top PBR Challenger Tour venue.
In 2017, the event center became the home to a new professional indoor football team in Champions Indoor Football called the Bismarck Bucks.[7] The Bucks joined the Indoor Football League for the 2019 season.
References
- "Bismarck Civic Arena and Parking Ramp" [Special Section], The Bismarck Tribune, January 2, 1969.
- "Arena Bids Well Below Limit Set," The Bismarck Tribune, June 7, 1967.
- "City Awards Contracts For Downtown Arena," The Bismarck Tribune, June 28, 1967.
- "Bismarck Civic Center Officially Changes Name [POLL]". Hot 97.5FM. September 26, 2014.
- "Celebrating over 50 Years of Great Design. A complete listing of AIA North Dakota award winners from 1963 - 2019," AIA North Dakota, 2019.
- Bill Tillottson, "Plaza South of City. Plans Announced for $4 Million Shopping Center," The Bismarck Tribune, September 4, 1968.
- "Bismarck is Getting an Indoor Football Team". 96.5 The Fox. September 26, 2016.