American Bank Center

American Bank Center

Former names	Bayfront Plaza (1967-2004)
Address	1901 North Shoreline Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Coordinates	27°48′26.42″N 97°23′36.82″W / 27.8073389°N 97.3935611°WCoordinates: 27°48′26.42″N 97°23′36.82″W / 27.8073389°N 97.3935611°W
Owner	City of Corpus Christi (operated by SMG)
Type	Entertainment complex
Construction
Opened	1967
Renovated	2002, 2005
Website
http://www.americanbankcenter.com/

American Bank Center

The American Bank Center is an entertainment complex located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The complex consists of an auditorium convention center and arena. The facility hosts numerous conventions, trade shows, exhibitions, live performances and sporting events. It is home to the Corpus Christi IceRays Tier II Jr. A ice hockey team, Corpus Christi Fury indoor football Team, and the Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders men's and women's NCAA basketball teams.

It is owned by the city of Corpus Christi, Texas and managed by SMG. The in-house catering company is SMG's own SAVOR..., a company that offers special event consulting and custom catering for food and beverage requirements. In 2007 the arena was the site for a controversial event in the WWE. The same day as the scheduled show, professional wrestler Chris Benoit died. The show was canceled and fans received a full refund for their tickets.Also, WWE Elimination Chamber 2015 was held here.

Facilities

Tenants of arena
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders	NCAA	2004–Present
Corpus Christi IceRays	NAHL	2010–Present
Corpus Christi Rayz/IceRays	CHL	2004–2010
Corpus Christi Fury/Hammerheads	AIF	2005–2006 2010–Present
Corpus Christi Sharks	AF2	2007–2009

American Bank Center Arena

• The American Bank Center Arena is an indoor arena located adjacent to the American Bank Center Convention Center. The construction of the arena was a joint effort by Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates, Arquitectonica and Gignac & Associates. The venue broke ground on November 3, 2002 and was completed in October 2004. Unique to the area is its split-tiered seating system design. This allows the large venue to have the illusion of a theatre setting. The maximum capacity of the arena is 10,000 for sporting events and concerts. The cost of the project was over $49 million.

Selena Auditorium

• The Selena Auditorium opened in 1979, known as the "Bayfront Plaza Auditorium". The venue was the filming location of The Johnny Canales Show. In 1996 the venue was renamed in commemoration of notable resident, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. It was renovated in 2004 to connected the property to the other buildings in the complex. The maximum capacity is 2,500. The venue is noted for its acoustics and for being "one of the most attended venues for entertainment in the Texas Coastal Bend area".

American Bank Center Convention Center

• The American Bank Center Convention Center opening in the 1970s and was known as the "Bayfront Plaza Convention Center" until November 2004. The convention center consists of five exhibits halls, two ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms. The main ballroom is called the "Henry Garrett Ballroom". The convention center was renovated in November 2004. The South Texas Oilfield Expo was one of the largest patrons of the convention center in 2012.^[1]

References

• American Bank Center
• Date when arena opened
• American Bank Center requires bigger deposit than originally thought

Notes

1. Smith, Mike (September 20, 2012). "South Texas Oilfield Expo draws thousands of oil and gas insiders to Corpus Christi". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved January 18, 2014.