New $450 Million Fort Worth Multipurpose Arena Will Break Ground Next Week

City of Fort Worth

The City of Fort Worth and Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth, the not-for-profit operating entity that will manage the new Fort Worth Multipurpose Arena, will host a “Let The Dirt Fly” ceremony at 11 a.m. April 18. The ceremony, which will be held at the intersection of Harley Avenue and Gendy Street, will commemorate the groundbreaking for the new arena. The event is open to all, and the public is encouraged to attend.

“Our new arena is going to set the standard for generations,” said Mayor Betsy Price. “It will host wonderful events and be a gathering place for our community. I hope our citizens join us on what will be a terrific day for all of us.”

The Fort Worth Multipurpose Arena is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. The partnership was approved by voters in November 2014. The $450 million project will complement the current Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, which will continue to serve as a major equestrian show arena.

“Since Fort Worth voters gave an overwhelming mandate in 2014 to proceed forward with a new, state-of-the-art multipurpose arena, our public-private partnership has been working hard on planning, designing and financing to make this arena a reality for Fort Worth,” said Ed Bass, chairman of Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth. “It is now time to show the citizens our progress and share our excitement for the future.”

Price and Bass will speak at the event.

Parking for the ceremony is available in the Trail Drive lots, which may be accessed from Trail Drive opposite of the Harley Avenue intersection. Harley itself will be closed to all through traffic before and during the ceremony. Shuttle transportation will be provided from the parking lot and the ceremony site.

About the arena

The Fort Worth Multipurpose Arena will be a 14,000-seat, multipurpose venue adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth. The arena will be owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for-profit operating entity, Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth. The state-of-the-art arena, scheduled to open in November 2019, will host concerts, sporting events and family entertainment, and will be the new home to Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performances.