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🌾Intrust Bank Arena (15 Years Later)

The History of Intrust Bank Arena

Author

Landon Huslig
February 12, 2025

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- Landon Huslig

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Intrust Bank Arena (15 Years Later)

Sportsmatik

Last month, Intrust Bank Arena celebrated its 15th anniversary which is hard to believe.

Let’s take a quick pulse of the crowd:

When is the last time you went to an event at Intrust Bank Arena?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

This is a great time to reflect on its journey from inception to becoming a cornerstone of downtown Wichita entertainment and life.

Kansas Coliseum

Wichita Eagle

Before we get to Intrust Bank Arena, we need to take a look at what came before it.

The Kansas Coliseum was opened in 1977 where it hosted the NCAA Men’s tournament in 1981 & 1994, WSU basketball while Koch Arena was being renovated, Wichita Wings between 1979 to 2001, Wichita Thunder form 1992 to 2009 and much more before it was sold to aviation research developer Johnny Stevens for just under $1.5 million and has since been turned into a testing facility for NIAR.

Wichita Eagle

Britt Brown Arena officially closed its doors on February 22, 2010, right after Intrust Bank Arena opened.

A Vision Realized

The story of Intrust Bank Arena began with a vision to create a premier sports and entertainment venue in downtown Wichita. If you’re unaware, the Kansas Coliseum isn’t exactly close to downtown.

The arena is technically owned by the Sedgwick County government and operated by ASM Global (which also operates the Orpheum - although the Orpheum is owned by nonprofit Orpheum Performing Arts Centre LTD).

Downtown - 2006 vs 2024

November 9, 2004: Sedgwick County voters approved (52-48%) the construction of the arena, aiming to replace the aging Kansas Coliseum. The estimated construction cost was just under $184 million.

April 4, 2005: Governor Sebelius signed the Intrust Bank Arena tax bill so Sedgwick County could collect a 1% sales tax that would last 30 months starting July 1, 2005.

December 4, 2007: Construction broke ground.

January 10, 2008: It was announced that Intrust Bank (the largest bank HQ in Kansas) won the naming rights for 25-years at a cost of $8.75 million.

January 2, 2019: The doors officially opened.

A Hub for Entertainment

Over the past 15 years, Intrust Bank Arena has hosted a diverse array of events, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for entertainment in the Midwest.

The inaugural concert featured country superstar Brad Paisley on January 9th, 2010 - setting the stage for a legacy of world-class performances.

T-Swizzle rocking the stage in 2010

The arena has welcomed renowned artists, absolute legends of the game such as:

  • George Straight (2/19/2010)

  • Elton John & Billy Joel (3/3/2010)

  • Taylor Swift (4/1/2010) & (August 6, 2013)

  • Nickelback (5/14/2010)

  • Fleetwood Mac (3/31/2015)

  • Garth Brooks (12/3/2015)

  • Paul McCartney (7/19/2017)

  • Foo Fighters (11/13/2017)

And much, much more. (what a banger of a first year though, huh??)

Notably, Metallica set an all-time attendance record with a sold-out show on March 4, 2019, drawing 15,690 fans before it was broken by Zach Bryan when he brought in 16,172 fans on August 27, 2023.

Sports & Shows

Concerts aren’t the only attraction. Sports and shows have been a huge focal part for the arena.

It has served as the home for the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL since its opening in 2010. The venue has also hosted significant sporting events, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2018 and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament in 2011 and 2022. They also just hosted the US Figure Skating Championships in January 2025.

Economic Impact and Community Engagement

Beyond entertainment, INTRUST Bank Arena has been a catalyst for economic growth in the Wichita area.

In its first decade, the arena generated an estimated $168 million in new economic activity, averaging $16.8 million annually. This impact encompasses retail spending, hotel accommodations, and event revenues, underscoring the arena's role in bolstering the local economy.

Some other fun facts from the first decade (2010 - 2019):

  • hosted 890 events

  • 3,828,767 guests

  • $12 million in tax revenue generated

The arena's success is also reflected in its industry rankings.

In 2015, it was ranked as the 35th busiest arena in the United States and 73rd in the world by Pollstar Magazine, based on ticket sales.

Fun Facts

Here are a few fun facts and milestones from our beloved arena:

2010 – Grand Opening/Brad Paisley

2011 – Women’s NCAA Tournament

2013 – 1 Millionth Ticket/Jason Aldean

2013/2018/2023 – Venue Excellence Award (Industry award. One of the only venues to ever receive three times)

2015 - Garth Brooks multiple shows

2015 – 2 Millionth Ticket/Florida Georgia Line

2017 – Paul McCartney/Highest Grossing Show

2018 – NCAA Men’s Tournament

2018 – 3 Millionth Ticket/WSU

2020 – George Strait – Strait To Oz / 10 Year Anniversary Concert

2022 – Women’s NCAA Regional

2023 – 4 Millionth Ticket/Kenny Chesney + Zach Bryan/Highest Attended Show

2024 - Popcorn Tubs 17,654, Pretzels W/ Cheese 11,882, Nachos 4,905

2025 – U.S. Figure Skating Championships/ NCAA Men’s Tournament

Looking Ahead

Let’s take a look at some of the upcoming events we have to look forward to:

Who do you want to see come to Intrust Bank Arena in the future? Let us know and we will share with our friends at Intrust!

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Quick Rundown

That's it for today!

If you enjoyed today, share this email with someone who should move back to Wichita.

Thanks!

- Landon

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