Chevrolet Centre

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The main entrance to the Chevrolet Centre

The Chevrolet Centre (formerly the Youngstown Convocation Center) is a 5,700-seat multi-purpose arena in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It was built in 2005, thanks in a large part to a $26 million HUD redevelopment grant secured in 2000 by Congressman James A. Traficant, Jr. It is home to the Youngstown Steelhounds, an Ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League, and in 2007, will be home to the Mahoning Valley Thunder, an arena football team in the af2. The Chevrolet Centre is nicknamed The Chevy Centre/The Convo by most in the area.

The arena's grand opening was on October 29, 2005, when it hosted a concert by 3 Doors Down. The first hockey game was played about a week later, on November 4.

The Chevy Centre is managed by the International Coliseums Company, a subsidiary of Global Entertainment, which owns the Central Hockey League. The arena itself is owned by the city.

The arena, which was initially named the Convocation Center when it opened in October, was renamed a few weeks after its opening on Friday November 18, 2005, when General Motors acquired the naming rights, and was renamed what it is at present. Choosing Chevrolet for the naming rights was highly appropriate because one of the brand's more successful cars, the Cobalt, is manufactured in nearby Lordstown, Ohio.

[edit] Other facts

The arena's first sold-out performance(s) were on November 12, 2005, when it hosted two concerts by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Both 2:30 and 7:30 shows were sold out. The first sold-out hockey game was on January 14, 2006.

The Chevy will gain a second sports tenant in 2007. A franchise for the af2 arena football league had been approved, but had been unable to secure a lease. Lease talks have recently resumed, a deal had been agreed upon, and the Mahoning Valley Thunder will begin play in 2007. The deal was made! The Mahoning Valley Thunder will play their first home game on March 31, 2007.

The Chevy has been at the forefront of what is hoped to be a major downtown revitalization in the city of Youngstown. The downtown economy has benefitted since its opening, primarily from guests patronizing its bars and restaurants before and after events.

In a deal that is unique compared to most American cities, the city and other private firms came to an agreement that allowed people to park for free in downtown on days when there is an event at the arena.

The Chevrolet Centre hosted its first outdoor concert on July 5, 2006, when Rivers Edge, Evans Blue, and headliner Shinedown performed in the arena's east parking lot before 2,500 concertgoers.

[edit] Selected Events

October 22, 2005- Youngstown Convocation Center open house
October 29, 2005- 3 Doors Down, Shinedown, Alter Bridge (first event)
October 30, 2005- Tony Bennett
November 4, 2005- First Steelhounds game
November 12, 2005- Trans-Siberian Orchestra (First sold out event)
November 23, 2005- Lil Jon
November 27, 2005- Clay Aiken
December 28-31, 2005- Disney on Ice
January 14, 2006- First sold out Steelhounds game
January 19, 2006- Larry the Cable Guy
April 4, 2006- Korn, Mudvayne, 10 Years
April 10, 2006- John Mellencamp
July 5, 2006- Shinedown, Evans Blue
September 12, 2006- Staind, Crossfade, 3 Days Grace
March 31, 2007- First Mahoning Valley Thunder game
April 5, 2007- Ludacris presented by Youngstown State University

On June 30, 2006, Metal Bands Slayer, Mastodon (band), and Lamb of God (band) were scheduled to play here. Unfortunately, the show was moved to Cleveland.
On February 13, 2007, Metal band Slayer backed out of another Youngstown show that was moved to Cleveland.

American Conference		National Conference
Current arenas in the af2
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum \| Chevrolet Centre \| Everett Events Center \| Freedom Hall \| The MARK of the Quad Cities \| Qwest Arena \| Rabobank Arena \| Resch Center \| Selland Arena \| Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena \| Stockton Arena \| Times Union Center \| Toyota Center \| U.S. Bank Arena \| Wachovia Arena \| Verizon Wireless Arena		Alltel Arena \| Amarillo Civic Center \| American Bank Center \| Berry Center \| Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center \| CenturyTel Center \| CityBank Coliseum \| Dodge Arena \| Ford Center \| Germain Arena \| Gray Civic Center \| Laredo Entertainment Center \| Tulsa Convention Center \| Von Braun Center

Northeast Division		Northwest Division		Southeast Division		Southwest Division
Current arenas in the Central Hockey League
CenturyTel Center \| DeSoto Civic Center \| Chevrolet Centre \| Tulsa Convention Center		Britt Brown Arena \| Budweiser Events Center \| Ford Center \| Broomfield Event Center		American Bank Center \| Dodge Arena \|Laredo Entertainment Center \| Chaparral Ice		Amarillo Civic Center \| CityBank Coliseum \| Ector County Coliseum \| Santa Ana Star Center \| Tim's Toyota Center